Day 841 (Saturday) 28th September 2019
It was 38 degrees in direct sunshine again this morning – bloody marvellous! While we were having our morning coffee we saw a parade going along the seafront and we remembered that today is the festival of Saint Michael, the beautiful church in Villefranche.
About half an hour later they paraded past our front door
Huw had read about this festival on Villefranche’s Facebook page and we decided to go to the square boules competition
Friday, September 27, 2019
12h: Foyer du Caroubier
Spanish Hostel. Karaoke Animation
From 5.30 pm to 11 pm: Félix Poullan Place
Lu Festin de la Bugada. Festive and cultural evening
Saturday, September 28, 2019
9am: In the city
Strolling of the folk group "Lei baisso lusserno"
14h: Lorenzoni Square
Competition of square balls. Family tournament
7 pm: Capital of the Citadel
Bal de la Saint Michel. Benty's Orchestra
Meals organised by the Festival Committee
Reservation until September 20th at 06.22.61.03.30
Sunday, September 29, 2019
10h: Saint Michel church
Messe sung by the Olivula group
11h30: Place Felix Poullan
Aperitif offered to the population. Choir of school children
18h: Saint Michel Church
Concert organised by "The Friends of the Organ and Music"

We went for a walk around the old town and it was really busy because there were two cruise ships in the bay.
We then sat in the church square on two red chairs waiting for the action


Look at the colour of the sky
A small crowd gathered, including the town’s photographer and we watched some people practice for the competition
It wasn’t much of a competition but the atmosphere was delightful – another Year In Provence moment
I looked up the history of square boules and found this…
But for a completely different take on the traditional game head to Haut-de-Cagnes, the medieval hill village in the centre of Cagnes sur Mer (20 minutes from Lou Messugo). Here they play “Square Boules” – yes, pétanque with square “balls”! The streets are too steep to play regular boules so in 1980 a member of the local club invented a variant with balls that wouldn’t roll. Eh voilà! Pétanque carrée! It is played in two streets, both uphill and down and even has a World Championship around 25th August every year. Pétanque players certainly have a sense of humour.
We then went to the art exhibition in a hall next to the church and it was rather lovely
Ages ago Nancy told me that she had bought a pair of reversible jeans in Natalie’s clothes shop in her building in Place de la Paix so I went and tried a pair on and was delighted when the size 8 fitted me. This is such a clever design and you get two pairs of jeans for the price of one
We then went for another walk to the end of the beach and it was gorgeous



We stopped at the beach bar and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of cold beers in the sunshine

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