Translator Wanted…
By Richard | February 15, 2009
- Looking for voluntary translator(s) French-English, or Spanish-English. Write to Richard, stesmaries@gmail.com - Merci!
- Recherche traducteurs(rices) bénévoles français-anglais, ou espagnol-anglais. Ecrire à Richard, stesmaries@gmail.com - Thanks!
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February 2nd, World Wetlands Day.
By Richard | February 2, 2009
© Richard Palumbo
What is World Wetlands Day?
2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular. From 1997 to 2007, the Convention’s website, http://www.ramsar.org/, has posted reports from more than 95 countries of WWD activities of all sizes and shapes, from lectures and seminars, nature walks, children’s art contests, sampan races, and community clean-up days, to radio and television interviews and letters to newspapers, to the launch of new wetland policies, new Ramsar sites, and new programmes at the national level. Government agencies and private citizens from all over the world have sent us their news, often with photographs, and these annual summaries and 900+ individual reports, with more than 1200 images, make an excellent archive of ideas for future celebrations.
© Richard Palumbo
And each year since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat, with generous financial assistance from the private sector Danone Group, has offered a new selection of posters, stickers, videos, pocket calendars, leaflets and information packs free of charge and has suggested a unifying theme for the benefit of those who wish to use it.
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The raising water level in Camargue ………
By Richard | January 6, 2009
© Richard Palumbo
Are my memories of thirty years ago being able to walk behind the bunker of the Crin Blanc beach without getting our feet wet correct or incorrect? Looking at this photo taken in 2008, some doubt comes regarding the validity of my memory. It looks like yesterday, and indeed, yes, it was possible… In our days we need to get wet til our knees to touch the bunker. How many years before we won’t be able to see it anymore?
Known under the Roman Empire, the Camargue started to get developpe and exploited under Napoleon III reign in the middle of the 19th century. His wife, born in Spain, promotes the excellence of the bulls field (bullfighting and other disciplines). The Camargue which raises both covetous and dreams, which was magnified by many artists (Frédéric Mistral & Alphonse Daudet, poets from Provence, Van Gogh when he lived in Arles, and many other artists), sees its balance threatened by the actions of men at the regional (miscellaneous activities: salt, rice, livestock, tourisme) and worlwide level (greenhouse effect and global warming). A part of this land of 150 000 hectares situated in the middle of the Rhône Delta is protected by the Regional Natural Parc created in 1970 to to cope with the industrialization of the coast (industrial harbor zone of Fos sur mer) and the coast mapping of 1960 (seasides reasort like La Grande Motte), which mission is to ensure the sustainable development of the area.
My researches about the raising water level in Camargue led me to pick up the three articles below, written after the 2005 fload which have been a wake up call about the future of this wild and mythic landscape:
- Newspaper l’Humanité (Feb. 2006) : The Camargue soon under water.
- Newspaper Le Figaro (Dec. 2007) : Oceans water level raising threatens the coast.
- Newspaper Le Devoir (Dec. 2007) : Half of the Camargue is getting wet.
To read these articles clink on the following link: Read the rest of this entry »
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Lorenzo, The Flying French Man ………
By Richard | December 31, 2008
Photo : © Photos V.F. et D - At home in Les Saintes Maries de la mer. The beautiful truck is only one year old, and already 45.000 km… Driver and artist, Lorenzo meets The Cadre Noir de Saumur (National School of Equitation) as well as the Princess of Jordan, which has gave two Arabic full-breaded horses as a gift.
Son of the sand and the sea, Lorenzo, horserider of the stars.
The story has rocked thousands of children of Camargue and made a multitud of adults fall in love with the Rhône Delta. In the movie ‘Crin Blanc’, the intrepid Folco, 10 years old, steal the stardum from the ‘gardians’ (herdsmen), and manage to tame a beautiful white Camargue stalion. The movie, more than half a century old (shot in 1952), ends with a scene where the little bohemian Folco leaves the hostile earth and swims on the back of Crin Blanc in a wavy sea towards freedom…
Lorenzo, 31, was born in Les Saintes Maries de la mer. Babeth, his mother, herself stemming from a family rocked by the equestrian traditions, has falled in love at the first sight for this wild land of horses between the Rhône Delta. It’s at 8 years old that Lorenzo starts to write his story. He gives shows in the bullrings of Camague, jumping from horse to horse; classical horse acrobatics.
With his four Camargue horses, Lorenzo jumps, spins and amazes, like Folco, a lot of people of Camargue. Standing on his horses, with a perfect complicity (with some injuries as the price to pay for their preparation), Lorenzo always wants to go higher (he’s always putting the jumping bars higher) and farer… “Since he was a child, he has always been telling me that on day he will own a big truck and leave with his horses for America”, confesses his mother.
Specialist of the Hungarian Post (The act the Hungarian Post is the realization of the dream of the Austian postman. While standing on the backs of two horses galloping side-by-side, the rider holds onto the reins while they jump over obstacles.)
At 16, Germany suggests to the self-taught horserider to abandon the horse acrobatics to dedicate himself to the Hungarian Post. Standing on his horses, he invents a show nobody has done before. With his Camargue horse, then by integrating Lusitanian horses, the bet is raised. His method is close to the ‘gift’… “Teach the horse to do more and more by himself, until he manages guessing.!” His strengh? The number of horses under the engine (up to 10) and the adrenalin he fires up in the public. Since 2005 at Cheval Passion in Avignon, Lorenzo has eased the line. He jumps obstacles placed above croup of his running horses and manages to land standing like a ‘i’ on their back, he now also whispers in their ears certain behaviors which enable them to release their freedom and amaze the public.
Two different but complementary shows. The general public appreciates his ardour, while the strict equitation elite praises his technique. In England, in front of the Queen, in the Sultana of Oman in front of the Sultan, in front of the Princess of Jordan, in front of the King of Marocco, Lorenzo seduces the crowned heads, and packs the public. At the moment, nobody succeeded in competing with him.
His chalenge now? To do more en more shows around the world, except the worldwide jumping contests. From Austria where he has bought a property, 20 horses regulary leave by road, by boat, even by plane (14 hours to go to Malaysia), for his worldwide shows. 10 more horses are in training, to replace the olders and continue to make the star shine. He’s training at the moment to manage a alignment of 10 horses for his next show. For this flying horserider, America isn’t far, like China…, in total freedom.
Julie Zaoui - jzaoui@laprovence-presse.fr - La Provence
- Lorenzo’s official site: http://www.lorenzo.fr/lorenzo/2007.html
- Google link of one of his videos. (Click on the link)
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Syvette César is fighting to save her traditional herdsman hut.
By Richard | December 31, 2008
Photo © Valérie Farine -
The municipality wants to destroy it in order to redesign the village entrance.
It’s one of the symbols of Camargue, along its the pink flamingos, the white horses and the black bulls. The traditional ‘cabane de gardian’ (herdsman hut), with its whitewashed walls and his roof made of ’sagne’, is part of the postal card. Then, obviously, it’s an attractive home. For sure it isn’t Syvette César who will say otherwise. With her 26 years old daughter, this inhabitant of Les Saintes Maries de la mer lives in one of these traditional houses at the end of the avenue Riquette-Aubanel.
“I am tenant since thirty years”, she says. In a paradisiac setting, just in front of the Etang de Launes and two minutes from the Méditerranée. There is even the famous Cross of Camargue, the emblem of the region invented by the Marquis of Baroncelli. It is to say how picturesque and attracting to visitors is this place. “You should see the number of tourists who are taking photos”, she adds showing the herdsman hut.
The ultimatum
But the hut in question is maybe living its last hours. Her landlord, who rents the ground from the municipality, presses her to leave the place. Why? The house is situated on a municipal piece of land and the City hall would like to get it back and destroy it in order to redesign the entrance of the village. “Nevertheless, this day I haven’t received any official letter announcing my expropriation”, comment Sylvette César.
“Normal, answers the mayor Roland Chassain, there isn’t any procedure for the moment. We are waiting that the settlement with the owner of the hut.” The lease goes until 2010, asserts the tenant. “I don’t see why I should leave the place. I would like my tenant’s rights to be respected. But, before anything, I would like to preserve this hut which is part of the heritage of Camargue”, estimate Syvette César who has even written to the Regional Direction of the Cultural Affairs to try to have classified about fifteen huts along the sea shore. A little lost in front of what threatens her home, she took the advise of a lawyer and notified the deputy of the district, Michel Vauzelle. In the meantime, last year, the municipality has already had destroyed a similar hut on a nearby piece of land. And raises an ultimatum. “If nothing is settled in six months from now, we shall be obliged this time to proceed to an expropriation”, warms Roland Chassain.
© Richard Palumbo
The project of the municipality.
” No, the objective of the municipality is not to build a car park! “ The mayor Roland Chassain is willing to bring to an end the rumour which circulates in the village. ” We want to have this piece of land back in order to start the 4th section of the seaside development from the harbour office to Crin Blanc, he explains. We plan to develop the site around the bridge of the Deaths (pont des Morts) and the Cross of the Camargue which is not visible from the road at present, and built, by 2012, a memory and discovery site, with benches, trees and panels explaining the history, the fauna and the flora of Camargue. But there definitely won’t a car park here! “ Will Follow a 5th development section up to the camping of the Clos-du-Rhône with a cycle and a pedestrian track, and an equestrian walk which will later on lead to the camping of the Breeze (camping de La Brise), on the other side of the village. ” An attractive project “, estimates the mayor. Although its implementation must be accompanied by an expropriation.
Mathieu Girandola - mgirandola@laprovence-presse.fr - La Provence
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Contemplate the loving ballet of the pink flamingos…
By Richard | December 30, 2008
© Richard Palumbo
In the ornithological park of Pont-de-Gau, on the road of Saints Marie of the sea, about 1600 pink flamingos settled down for their winter loving parade, then their coupling. The visitors can see them some metres away doing their surprising choreography: they turn the head to the right and to the left, beat fervently their wings revealing their sublime pink plumage.
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Hosre Festival - July 11th to 14th 2008
By Richard | June 25, 2008
Another celebration of King Horse for four days in the village which becomes the place of meeting of the riders and their horse in any sorts of equestrian disciplines. Bodegas, flamenco bands, horses parades, abrivados, bandidos and roussataïo in the streets of the village will bring a festive atmosphere. R.P.
For the program, click the following link: Read the rest of this entry »
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Don Camillo versus Peppone, Episode 3, The End…
By Richard | June 21, 2008
© Richard Palumbo
Suite of the April 10th article.
The Mayor wins, the priest wanted to stop public access to the roof, allowed since 1963.
The Administrative Tribunal of Marseille has judged that the Mayor of Saintes Maries de la Mer, Roland Chassain, is right in his judicial battle which opposes him to the local priest Thierry François de Vrégille, concerning the use of the fortified village church roof. After the initial hearing 1st April, the tribunal rejected the Dioceses request to stop touristic access to the roof. The Mayor was quoted “I hope this judgment will make jurisprudence. Many Mayors are confronted with the same problem”.
The quarrel, which is reminiscent of a chapter from Don Camillo e Peppone (Book by Giovannino Guareschi), but with a Camargue twist, turned around laws dating from 1905 and 1907 concerning the separation of Church and State and church services. Even though Roland Chassain admits that it would be a good idea to “dust down” the laws, he sees the judgment confirms the communal character of the building.
© Jérôme Rey
The Masses are not disturbed.
“It’s very surprising” protests the priest, who does not understand the conclusion which is “contrary to the government commissioner’s opinion”. Father Thierry François de Vrégille is going to appeal “with the Dioceses’s agreement”. The Priest, who asked that access should be denied at least during the gypsy pilgrimage, doesn’t accept the conclusion that masses are not disturbed (visitors access (the roof) by an exterior tower, by stairs which are independent from those parts of the church concerned by services).
Yes but, “Nowhere is it mentioned that that the chapel above the choir is used for services” remarks the Priest. “It’s important that church buildings or not left at the disposition of Mayors without a minimum of control” says the Priest to justify his desire not to leave the case lie. “Let our Priest take care of his religious services and his flock” answers Roland Chassain who, as a good “believer, brought up by Brothers/Monks” would prefer to stay on good terms with (his) priest”.
The judge’s decision seems to take into account that the church roof has been managed this way since 1963. It’s the Semis (Mixed economy Company of Saintes) who decides the entry fee according their public service delegation, like it does for car parks and campsites. “Even if it’s illegal, the longer a situation lasts, the more difficult it is to question” admits the Priest. Up to 100 000 visitors a year climb to the roof.
Laurent Rugiero (lrugiero@laprovence-presse.fr) - La Provence
Translated by Toby Pierrepoint - toby.pierrepoint@wanadoo.fr
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Votive Feast (village festival) - June 18th to 23th 2008
By Richard | June 6, 2008
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© Richard Palumbo
The day of the ‘Fête du Cheval’ (Horse Feast) during the Votive Feast of the village offers to its inhabitants, the tourists and the horses’ lovers some equestrian entertainments and shows in the arena (bullrings), a horses fair, a traditional parade in the main street of the village, some folk music, an abrivado, a bandido and a roussataïo. A feast where the Horse is King. R.P.
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© Richard Palumbo
Click for more photos: Read the rest of this entry »
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Gypsies Pilgrimage 2008
By Richard | April 26, 2008
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On May 24th at 10:00 am a mass will open the pilgrimage. After the ceremony of the Descent of the Reliquaries (3:30 pm), Sara’s statue, the Black Virgo and Patron Saint of the Gypsies will be brought in procession from the church to the sea. The evening of prayers will begin at 8:30 pm.
A first mass will be given on May 25th at 8:00 am, followed at 10:00 am by a solemn mass of the Saints Marie Jacobé and Salomé and at 11:00 am by the procession to the beach and the blessing in the sea. The ceremony of the Ascent (Rise) of the Reliquaries will begin at 3:30 pm. (Read page ‘Pilgrimage‘)
© Richard Palumbo
The day to the memory of the Marquis of Baroncelli, on May 26th, will begin at 11:30 am with an abrivado in the streets of the village followed at 12:00 am by the ceremony at the grave of the Marquis of Baroncelli. At 3:30 pm, in the arena (bullrings), will take place herdsmen’s games, folk dances and bulls’ races (’courses de taureaux’), then a bandido will follow this entertainment and end the day and thie week-end of celebrations. R.P.
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