Lectoure’s Montgolfière Fête

The last weekend of August is busy in Lectoure with the Gasconnade Fete and the Montgolfière Fete.  Lectoure is in the Gascogne region of the Gers.  The Gasconnade families that have lived in the area perform music and dances together, eat special dishes, and speak a different dialect of French.  They share their traditions at the Gasconnade Fete each year.  

We particularly enjoy the Montgolfière Fete each year, watching from our balcony.  We noticed balloons gathering next to the rugby stadium last evening, and we went up to watch, texting with neighbors.  We feel like we have a “front row seat.”  We counted 21 balloons taking off, but it was difficult to get them all in the same photo.  We watched until the sun went down.

The balloons gathered again this morning, just after 7h.  They flew west this time, with little breeze.  The balloons slowly moving over the rolling hills of the Gers were beautiful!

Ripe Fruit

We have friends with gardens, full of ripening fruit - figs, blackberries, pears, apples, plums.  We spent some time with Susan and Anling, eating some of the fruit that Anling and I picked, overlooking their garden.  Susan lives in Lectoure full time and Anling is visiting from the States for a few days.   

Second Line in Lectoure

Late this morning, I heard the song “When the Saints Go Marching In,” being played over and over.  I stuck my head out the window and the music was nearby, but I wasn’t sure if it was live.  Papa and I went outside, to go to the grocery store, and we heard music coming closer to us.  We walked to the end of the street just in time to see a brass band rounding the corner of Rue des Capucins and Rue des Frères Danzas.  Following the band was a very happy wedding party!  It was a Second Line in Lectoure!  We followed them from Rue des Frères Danzas halfway down Rue Antichan.  We were reminded of our New Orleans experience in February with Taylor, hearing then seeing a Second Line celebrating a wedding.  What fun for us to see in our little village!

Ornella and Donato’s Visit to Lectoure

Ornella and Donato arrived in Toulouse on Monday evening.  We picked them up and drove home, had a quick dinner, and walked up to Rue Nationale for Lundi Nuit.  We enjoyed wine at Chez Yann while Los Pagayos bandas played.  It was a festive start to their visit!

On Tuesday morning, Ornella and I walked on the Chemin de Saint Jacques near Lectoure.  We shopped a bit in Lectoure and visited the Brocante Village.  We had lunch at Chez Vous in Saint-Puy, and we visited Abbaye de Flaran.  We had a simple dinner of charcuterie, cheeses, fruits, and fresh bread for dinner.  We sat on our 4th floor balcony after dinner and talked into the dark.  A nice day!

Ornella and I walked again on Wednesday morning, on the moulin road north of Lectoure.  We visited two chateaux before lunch, Chateau de Flamarens where we took a tour with the owner.  The Chateau de  Flamarens was built in the late 1200’s.  It suffered a terrible fire in 1943 and was abandoned.  It was purchased by a French family about 30 years ago.  They have been working on it ever since, putting on a new turret this year.  Papa and I go to Chateau de Flamarens several times each summer for concerts.  

Chateau de Gramont was built in the early 1200’s by a noble family and it stayed in private hands and was well cared for until 1979, when it was donated to Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques.  It has an amazing collection of tapestries and a beautiful garden.

We had lunch at L’Auberge de Tournecoupe, then returned to Lectoure for the afternoon.  Ornella and I climbed the Cathédrale tower and enjoyed the 360 view of Lectoure.  We stopped at a friends house to pick fresh figs, pears, and apples, then went to the thermes to soak before dinner.  We enjoyed our fruits with dinner.  

We were up early on Thursday morning, for the drive back to Toulouse airport.  We loved every minute of Ornella and Donato’s short visit!

Our Gers Weekend

On Thursday evening, we went to a concert at L’Ecole de Immaculate Conception, with David Levi playing piano and Sharman Plesner playing violin.  They performed outside under the trees, just beyond the Cloisters of Immaculate Conception.  Both musicians are accomplished and their performance was superb!  Both performers were born in America and have lived in France for 10+ years.  We sat under the trees, surrounded by friends and lingered after the concert.

On Friday morning, I went to Lectoure’s marche - always fun and where I fill baskets with fresh fruits and vegetables plus artisan bread.  In the evening, we met friends, Caroline and Glyn for dinner in La Romieu, and then went to a Gospel choir concert.  It was a very hot evening and the acoustics aren’t great in La Romieu’s Collegiale, but the concert was excellent!  The choir performed songs in English, all familiar to the world, with their French audience singing along.  We enjoyed every moment!

I worked in the Bechetoille’s garden on Saturday morning for a couple of hours.  We met our friend Susan at 3:00 in Bastion Park, to watch the Carriolades, part of the Fete du Melon.  There were a dozen plus homemade cars that operate without engines, just people power - someone to steer and someone to push.  It is always great fun to watch!  It was over 100F, so we stopped for ice cream on the way home, with friends Rachel and Sid.

Papa and I picked blackberries and figs in Susan’s yard this morning.  We came home and cut more grapes to give away to friends.  We went for lunch at L’Atelier d’Auria’s.  It was delicious and it is always special!  A good weekend!