The Camargue: Travel to France's Wild West!

Whenever you're traveling, it's always fun to get "off the beaten path" and really experience the area for yourself. During my trip to France, we spent several days in the Camargue region, which is famous for its wild horses and flamingoes. In order to explore the local culture, we stayed at a manade (the French version of a dude-ranch) in Saliers--a tiny town that's hardly more than a church, a few houses and a dot on the map.

In the Camargue, the French raise bulls (les taureaux) for both food and sport. They host village festivals that include l'abrivado, a running of the bulls that wouldn't be out of place in Pamplona, Spain and taureaux piscine, an event that seems very similar to an American rodeo. Even in a completely different country, I kept seeing things that were so foreign to me, yet so familiar at the same time.

I got in touch with my inner cowboy when we saddled up to get a closer look at the world-famous flamingoes and bulls. Although I was a bit nervous at first, my training from riding horses as a child kicked right in and soon I was trotting along at the front of the group and loving every minute.

Whether it's on a hike, by Jeep, or on horseback, don't be afraid to get up close and personal with the local culture!