Fete de la Transhumance

The fair took place at Mas Dieu, a small village west of Montpellier.














Before the shearing begins, 'le dressage des chiens'. Here a couple of cunning canines herd some ducks through a tunnel.


















They certainly don't hold back at the start.














The traditional method of shearing a sheep.














Nearby kids getting a face full of fluff.














Looking back on a close shave.


















The pack arrives...














Jostling for postion in the herd.


















Dog on duty.














A shepherd and his herd set off.


As is tradition this time of year, herds of sheep and cattle are taken up into the mountains in southern France to graze. It certainly brings in the tourists. At this particular fair I was fortunate to witness my first sheep shearing!

Abandoned school

Unbelievable. This two storey building is a complete wreck, but for some reason the authorities have allowed it still to stand. On top of that it overlooks the beach.

Beziers

Beziers. A very hot day, climbed to the top of the cathedral and got a bit of vertigo. Also did a little self portrait.

Jardin des plants

You find a friendly frog or two down there.

Fire at the SNCF!

This fire truly stank out the whole city that night. I don't know how it started exactly, but the whole ticket office at the train station was flaming. It was lucky I had my camera on me, as I managed to get a picture for the paper. With no tripod handy though I had to use a wall for a 6 second exposure.