Laid back

I had events marked in my programme for the Voix de la Méditerranée festival when I arrived in Lodève in the afternoon, but as often happens here I chanced upon this one, drawn in by the hammocks in the shade to a very interesting reading and discussion about the role of the poet in society between poets from Greece - Dimitri Angelis - and France, but of Chilean origin - Patricio Sanchez. From here I wondered on through the town, browsed in the book market which fills one street in the centre with publishers' and writers' stalls, sat by the river under the shade of a North African tent having a cold drink in the heat, attended la lecture les pieds dans l'eau where the audience sit on chairs in the river under the shade of a romanesque bridge to listen to the poets (this time including Occitan writer Danièle Estebe Hoursiangou), ate a delicious combination of apricot and raspberry sorbets in a favourite retreat from the heat, wondered around some more and then went to (another favourite) Algerian café for supper of kofte and salad..... And all this before the late evening event we'd bought tickets for, and definitely the highlight of a wonderful visit to the festival: Burhan Öçal & l'Ensemble Oriental d'Istanbul. This was one of the most exciting concerts I've been to - two hours of non-stop Turkish gypsy music played by five musicians who were not only technically excellent and amazing, but were also having great fun while they played. I took a lot of photos but didn't feel any of them did justice to the exhilaration felt by musicians and audience (a selection may appear elsewhere). At the end there was a standing ovation, demands met for two encores (just when we felt they must have completely worn themselves out!) and dancing on stage and all around it. If you get a chance - see them!

Home very late, in the small hours, so this is a backblip. Another trip to the festival planned today and then I'll put together a set of images to give more of an idea of the wonderful atmosphere that always fills Lodève at this time of year.