The Transhumance: Part 4 --the "blood and gold" majorettes

As I've written before, drum majorette troupes are a big thing in the Ariège. Today's group is called the "sang et or"--blood and gold. No, we're not sure why either. But you can see how they reflect the name in their costumes, and--whatever their name--they were terrific. First they paraded through the vide grenier. Then they lined the road, raising their batons to create a welcoming arch for the sheep. Finally, they provided a magnificent performance midway through lunch. Majorettes, by they way, is a misnomer. There's also a male version--majorets? 

Do note the sheep in the background. 

Original Chocolate Sin

Shouldn't it be called "faux gras"? This disk on the left is made of solid chocolate--chocolate ganache coated with white chocolate. Below, a troupe of drum majorettes wearing smart leather boots the pale green of new spring onions.

The link is that we saw both this morning in Pamiers, a town a half hour away. We knew about the foie gras made by this little chocolate shop. I visit its window frequently but have yet to get up the

nerve to go inside knowing that I would leave in a chocolate-induced coma. 

We weren't expecting the majorettes. Instead, we were geared up for the weekly Sunday morning flea market, mais non. Instead, tables and chairs filled the square and the stage at the end was bouncing with brass bands and majorettes. Either they had several costume changes--the common element being very short, twirly skirts and spangles--or there were several majorette troupes. 

Just your average Sunday morning in France...