Donkeys . Plenty of them . Each year , the village of Poulaines in the center of France (Indre) has a gathering that attracts fans and owners of donkeys , who are quite a lot in France . People living in the country consider them both like a convenient way to have the grass cut , and to have distraction and rides for the kids .
Donkey festivals are happening all over France , in villages deeply rooted in the terroir . First time I went to this Poulaines gathering , like 3 years ago , I discovered there are many different races of donkeys .Some are small , some tall , some have weird hair and colors . This weekend I happened to learn by chance this was the time for the gathering , the " Fete des Anes de Poulaines " , so I went and spent time there . Plus , they have a "brocante" in the streets of the village that day , where people sell their stuff on the sidewalk . Good opportunity to find an old book or some useful thing for the house . I had the chance to find on the very first stalls I checked , a pair of never used rearview mirrors for my old Citroen Ami 8 . 10 days earlier, as we were on a narrow road with Benedicte , a coming car passed too close and blasted the left mirror . I was despaired at the time , but now I have two shiny rearview mirrors mounted on the good old car . Back to the donkeys . We had a minister for the event inauguration , with the Secretaire d'Etat à l'Agriculture Nicolas Forissier , and the Mayor of Poulaines and of Valencay . After the traditional "vin d'honneur" , the fete was launched . Donkeys were lining in a grassy field and their owners nearby . Some were for sale . This year saw less donkeys , I think , but you could still sample the different types of this animal .
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