Caption

In America, an after work get together frequently involves a bar and watching sports on the big screen. In France, where we had the pleasure of traveling recently, more often than not, you will find people in the village square, at least near a bar or restaurant, playing Boules.

This is a game where several players throw metal balls, "boules", as closely as possible to a smaller ball. The closest to the small ball wins. The game dates back centuries, but the current form, where the ball is thrown while standing as displayed here, dates back to 1907. On one level, it is very simple, but the actual playing of it requires a surprising amount of skill.

As important as the game itself is, the time spent with friends is even more important. During the summer months, games typically begin after dinner and can go late into the night, depending on the availability of lighting. I found myself wishing for a less hurried lifestyle with time to spend in the evenings playing boules with friends, just enjoying each moment.

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Location

Europe / France

Lat: 43° 41' 54" N
Long: 7° 7' 19" E

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Unknown / Undeclared.

Equipment

Canon 5D Mk II, Tokina 10-17 shaved fisheye, Pinnacle VR tripod head, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, SNS HDR, PTGui