This weekend takes place the Primafresca and the Printemps de l’aficion. Back to the day on Saturday.
Few die-hards but many Gauls! (Photo Anthony Maurin).
A little historical reminder. In 2005, the last Feria de la Primavera took place, which was a real little Nîmes feria. In the bullring and under the bubble there were novilladas and bullfights and in the streets of the city, aperitifs and tertulias. A real mini fair.
With the impossibility of repeating this event because of the impact that the bubble had on the monument, this feria fell into oblivion. But traders do not have a short memory and quickly validated the Primafresca.
This weekend with feriesque scents has taken place since and the people of Nîmes are fond of it because with it the season is launched. The sequence is fast following the “Prima”, the Roman Days, the Pentecost feria and summer is already here.
After Friday’s inaugural party, Saturday morning was quiet. The street was spotless around 7:30 a.m. but wouldn’t stay that way for long because the first aperitif was scheduled for around noon.
The Saturday aperitif of the Primafresca 2023 at 12:30 p.m. (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The Saturday aperitif of the Primafresca 2023 at 12:30 p.m. (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The Saturday aperitif of the Primafresca 2023 at 12:30 p.m. (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The Saturday aperitif of the Primafresca 2023 at 12:30 p.m. (Photo Anthony Maurin).
The Saturday aperitif of the Primafresca 2023 at 12:30 p.m. (Photo Anthony Maurin).
After this festive moment and to digest all that, head to the Jardins de la Fontaine with a series of demonstrations of Camargue racing and becerrada. Scheduled between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Camargue race workshop was absent subscribers. On the other hand, the apprentice bullfighters were there long before and prepared the track even if the watering was not only partially assured. The young people of the Center Franças de Bullfighting provided an hour of bullfighting in the living room before, around 3 p.m., toreating a pair of young erales in front of a few onlookers.
Apart from portable arenas, the members of the French Association of Practical Aficionados also offered live bullfighting. Further still, a tent with a virtual reality simulation for the Camargue race! The godfather, Juan Leal, bullfighting matador who triumphed once more last week at the Arles feria, was also there to face Camargue cattle from Vidal (Combas) and give his advice to the young people of the CFT.
In the cabin for a virtual simulation (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Go shoo, we look, we take full eyes without seeing! (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Afap gives its advice and initiates the curious (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Young people have the helping hand under the divine gaze! (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Finally, some adults continue learning (Photo Anthony Maurin).
A beautiful natural (Photo Anthony Maurin).
In the bullring, CFT students pose before the paseillo (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Godfather Juan Leal came with his family (Photo Anthony Maurin).
Ultimate advice, young people are listening to the experience (Photo Anthony Maurin).
In the evening, return to Rue Fresque to savor the Nîmes nights. This evening, the guests had the watchword to come disguised as “irreducible Gauls”. Few disguises but the main thing was to have a good evening despite the wind!
Beginning of rue Fresque from Place du Marché (Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
In the area of 421 (Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
(Photo Anthony Maurin).
Rue Fresque from Rue de Bernis (Photo Anthony Maurin).
For those who want more, the immense Marcel Pagnol wrote, at the age of 16, the “Chant des Pochards” here and which was published in 1911 in the magazine Massilia.
Far from us ! Far be it from us lovers of clear water!
Because they are never inspired by wine.
Their faces never light up bright red, they do not know the art of emptying a glass,
And their forehead, forever, remains discolored.
Never in their cold eyes does cheerfulness sparkle
And never, at night, do they resound
The sleeping echoes of the narrow streets
And on the boulevards strewn with garbage cans
Barely fifteen paces away you can’t see their noses!
Glory to us! Glory to us! Insatiable drinkers
We empty the bottles of sherry, of Bordeaux
We know which vintages are the most delectable
And we don’t roll under tables
Only following having emptied half a barrel!
And, from a distance, our nose seems like fireworks
In the evening, on the sidewalks deserted by passers-by,
By its rays all the stars grow pale
And the red lanterns of the police stations
Beside its brilliance seem glowworms!
Let us pity those who died while drinking clear water.
Let us pity them because their brows were not stained,
Their noses shone not from the reflection of Madeira
They did not know the art of emptying a glass
And, ignoring the wine, they ignored everything!
Marcel Pagnol
Anthony Maurin
