Gathering

Still haven't managed to catch them airborne. These were just passing through ... they tried out the olive tree in the square, rejected it, and left.. It was a chance to try out my big lens -- I find it really hard to get sharp images with it and this is the only photo that survived. Might be better in large.

Another kind of gathering in extras. I went to Carcassonne to get my hair cut by a new-to-me hairdresser. I had a hard time convincing her to cut enough off, but she got there eventually. I'd seen the demonstrators gathering on the way in, and in fact met a friend on his way to join them,  but there were only a handful at that point. By the time I came out they were definitely into four figures and I realised they would be blocking the car park exit for a while, so I spent 20 minutes drinking coffee in a bar, by which time all was quiet.

These are nationwide demonstrations and strikes against gradually raising the official retirement age to 65. I know those in the UK will have their minds boggled by this. But French people are always ready to defend their established rights!