A Stroll through the Flea Market and Photo Festival
A day off in Fontvieille and Arles, southern France. The flea market, dance performances, and the last day of the international photography festival made this day special, ending with a surprising discovery about my favorite drink.
The day starts in Fontvieille after lunch. At the neighboring village’s flea market, the only thing that stops me from spending too much is that I don’t have cash on me. Around here, you could furnish an entire apartment from just one flea market. My day off continues in Arles; maybe I’ll find something to do. If not, I’ll just go for a walk.
Turns out, there is something going on. Last week’s rice festival was canceled, and today is its wrap-up day. The main street is closed off, with mostly sports schools and dance academies promoting themselves and recruiting new students. There’s also a language school that caught my attention because the courses are funded by the state. Too bad my winter stay here has become uncertain.
I watched students perform gymnastic routines – I’m not sure what it’s called, but they were cool, doing floor exercises to music. I also saw bachata, tango, and flamenco. My favorite shirt store was open for the last time this season, and on a whim, I bought the shirt I’ve been eyeing for exactly a year. It cost 80 euros, but it was worth it – not just for the elegant flamingo print, but for the quality of the fabric and cut as well.
Today is also the last day of the nearly three-month-long international photography festival. It wasn’t just exhibitions; there were seminars, talks, and workshops too. The €55 pass was totally worth it because I saw 26 exhibitions. Many of these shows were interspersed with the permanent collections of the city’s museums, which are open year-round. So, with this one pass, I gained entry to nearly all the museums and galleries in town. This happens every year, and it’s something I’d definitely recommend to all tourists.
The Van Gogh Museum was the only one I didn’t visit. It’s run by a Dutch foundation that doesn’t participate in the city’s events. There are two out-of-town venues that are part of the photography festival, but I skipped those. My last stop today was
the National Advanced School of Photography.
These were some great pictures! Not a massive collection, but that’s fine. In a building with a stunning view, they had captured nature, people, lives, and everyday moments beautifully. Just a few well-crafted images – and that was enough.
Today was another great day. At the end of it, I also learned that my favorite draft beer is named after a pelican.
Arles, Sunday, September 29, 2024.
