After discovering Equiblues, a Rodéo américain that takes place around the August 15 public holiday, we drove to the Ardeche to see what it was all about. The initial event in 1996 drew a crowd of 6,000. Today, the festival in Saint Agrève attracts over 27,000 with live country music acts and North American rodeo events. Le cow-boys (and gals) participate in le roping, le team penning, le bareback bronc riding, le saddle bronc riding, le barrel racing and les bulls. The stands were packed with spectators, for the finals. Fans wore jeans, western shirts, large belt buckles and hats. The events were adapted for a smaller arena. Dancing girls and a live band kept the audience engaged during the transitions.

Twenty-three Formula One (F1) cars, 800 horsepower V-8 engines spooling, it’s the start of the Monaco Grand Prix (GP). Deafening! Full ear protection is essential. Within the confines of the city of Monte Carlo, the towering hills a natural amphitheatre, magnify the sound of the race circuit. The idiosyncrasies of the Monaco GP circuit truly test drivers’ skills. Cars come to a virtual standstill on some hairpin corners, head through a tunnel and then accelerate to breakneck speeds on the straightaways. If a F1 race were proposed in Monaco today, it would be considered unsafe. Former world champion Nelson Piquet described driving in Monaco as, “like trying to cycle round your living room.

In Monaco, track corners such as Tabac, Louis Chiron, and Piscine have their own names. Many car aficionados only know the course by the names of the corners. Torrid action usually occurs at Sainte Devote, the turn located before the long uphill straightaway towards the Casino. This corner is named after the small church dedicated to a Christian martyr from the 4th century, whose treasured bones are thought to have protected the Monegasque locals from invasion for centuries.