Vow Feast and the bulls

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, 2024. 20 June.
As it was forecast to be a rainy weekend, I postponed the lavender blossoming and chose the relatively nearby beach of Saintes-Maries instead. I arrived at noon, the young bulls were being driven along the closed street.
Féte Votive – literally translated as “vow festival”; I don’t quite understand the tradition yet, but it seems to be the usual programme: horses, bulls, music.
This time the bull run took place in the sea: a temporary arena was built on the beach, half in the water and half on the sand. A spectacular show – especially as the players were amateurs. It seems to me that the professionals can get the bull so nervous that he doesn’t get significantly more nervous, but he still starts running.
The only thing that has changed about my passion since last year is that I am rooting for the bull, as he is not the instigator.
If I had known that everyone at this festival was wearing green, I would have brought a shirt to match my green shorts.
I slept on the beach in the afternoon. The rain was a little bit stingy, but with my raincoat on I had no problem. I will sleep on the beach in the evening.
But the day is not over yet…