Les Aficionados de l'Art Contemporain Français

Every summer the city of Bordeaux displays public art around the city. This year Bordeaux has displayed "La cow parade à Bordeaux." In 2007 the city hosted an exhibition of twelve monumental sculptures by Bernar Venet, a modern French artist. I don't know what the French art critics think of these works of art, but the city's younger citizens definitely appreciate them.

Les Danseuses Françaises

Le Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux is the site for the most prestigious cultural events such as l’Opéra national de Bordeaux. On the morning of Bastille Day, July 14, it was the scene for a different dance group. These French teenagers went through elaborate choreographic routines on the plaza in front of the theater. They took videos of themselves as the practiced their dance routines. An audience of interested onlookers gathered to watch the routines.

These young men stopped to express their appreciation.

Invitation à la danse

Dancing on a Sunday afternoon

At the north end of Bordeaux is le Jardin Public. The park occupies over ten hectares of land and was built in 1756 as a classic French garden, but later transformed into an English one. In addition to 3,000 species of plant life, le jardin is a major cultural center for les Bordelais. People come to the park pour faire un pique-nique et se promener (stroll around). Last Sunday, the sounds of Blues and American rock could be heard throughout le jardin. A DJ was blasting music (all American) for a couple dozen dancers.

Dog Day Afternoon

Before I left Chicago, I looked at the weather forecasts for Paris and southwest France. The weather forecasts indicated that the weather was unusually cold, cloudy and damp. I think Bosco can testify that those forecasts were inaccurate. Bosco was making the most of a Dog Day afternoon in Lauzerte, France on Tuesday.