Transport of delight

A snap taken with my phone of a scene M and I encountered in the street in Pézenas on the way to the market this morning. Anyone who has visited this area will probably recognise at once the poulain de Pézenas - a giant model of a foal (yes, really) in memory of one which was born in the town to a favourite mare of the King. In one reading, a craven royalist tribute; in another, a custom which has taken on tribal, almost pagan significances, since it is a totemic animal which emerges for important festivities. It's carried by nine young men, who have to co-ordinate their movements, including sidesteps and leaps into the air, with great precision. I think that today they were en route to, or from, a practice session. More here.
A joyful scene which went with our mood - I was in the other room today (see blip of 22 Oct) - as we discovered new local vegetable stalls, some excellent fresh fish, and girolles fungi straight from the mountains. All within a stone's throw of where we hope to live. Warm and sunny - during a walk later in the day we discovered wild asparagus emerging - that shouldn't happen till March.