The Circus...France style!

Circus signs were posted all over Banon when we drove through, so when our neighbours,  Linda and Paul, from California, mentioned that they were going to check it out, we decided to join them.

Camera Guy and I were the first in line - ok we were the first ones there.  The circus was starting at 6:30 and at 6:15 we still didn't see another person.  Goats were roaming around as were llamas, horses, ponies and even some cats.  Were there going to be trained cats since there were no lions???? Dan caught one of the stars in mid-poop!

At 6:25 Linda  and Paul showed up and the tent opened at 6:30.  We splurged on the most expensive seats, 14 Euros with plastic chairs ringside!!! There were about 60 people in attendance and the show was unlike any I had ever seen before.  The animal trainer was also the juggler who was also the ring gymnast and also the clown. He was actually pretty talented.  

The female tightrope walker was a little tense as she made her way across the wire, a death defying height of about 2 1/2 feet. 

She seemed like she really didn't want to be there.  Camera Guy said she looked like she wanted to run away and join the real world:)  She also had other jobs - like sweeping up the dirt in the ring and folding and unfolding the cover for the center ring ...several times. She also was the hula hoop star who managed about 3 rotations of the hoop before it hit the ground. 

The children in attendance had a great time and watching them was very entertaining...we were the only adults in the audience without children...

and we had a lot of fun too. This was rural France at its finest. We love these unique opportunities that present themselves when travelling. What will we stumble upon tomorrow?