Quartier St Jacques

Today I took the train to Perpignan to visit the annual international photojournalism festival.  The subject matter is harsh, especially the images of poverty, disaster and war zones but it is a salutary reminder of our responsibilities beyond our own national boundaries.  There were also interesting ethnographic exhibitions such as one on the child goddesses of Nepal.  Some of the images were displayed in the magnificent Hotel Pams, the former private residence of the family who made a fortune making the first cigarette papers for rolling tobacco.  I also wandered, somewhat warily, around the gypsy/arab quarter where there were serious riots a few years ago when there was a flare up between these two communities which usually live side by side without too much trouble.  The full flickr set of the day is here.