Every Easter, the small town of Argeles-sur-Mer hosts the Fête américaine . The promenade is filled with country and rockabilly music and ordinary people line dancing as if they've never done anything else. Every now and then, you can hear the rumble of American vehicles gliding along the promenade.
First exit after Spain
To come to Argeles-sur-Mer you take the flight to Barcelona, jump into a rental car and drive to France. After passing the border crossing, take the first exit and follow the signs for Argeles. The car journey takes 2 hours. Then you can reward yourself with a beer after swimming in the Mediterranean. The beach area stretches several kilometers to the north. In the summer, it is flooded with tourists. Besides the French, hordes of Dutch people have fallen in love with the city. If you get tired of swimming, you can take the car up into the mountainous region inland and visit the towns and sights there, or cycle to the picturesque neighboring town of Collioure or enjoy a fish meal in Port Vendres. The tourist office in town can provide more information. The only thing you have to remember is that you must get off at the first exit after Spain.
France is not just the Côte d'Azur
The houses on the beach
Awakened to life after winter
Fête americaine brings the beach area to life after winter. In winter, the area is not as attractive. Then most things are closed. The city center is a couple of kilometers further inland. Most permanent residents live there, and the shops and shopping centers are also located there. The "America party" was not a tourist attraction. It was for people who live in the area. The tourists come later.
Surprisingly good western atmosphere
The beaches in Argeles-sur-Mer are a bit reminiscent of the beaches in Southern California, such as Newport Beach, although the cowboys there are not the same as those you find in France. When I compare them to similar events at home, I am struck by how good a western atmosphere there is in Argeles. In Norway, line dancing would have attracted almost exclusively women. Here, all age groups were represented in the dance, including adult men, who refused to step out even when their wives insisted on going further. There was also life in the stalls and in the eateries. Good (country) music, barbecue, nice cars and Harleys contribute to a good atmosphere.
American icons
It is worth mentioning that the event was not just a car show. Those who exhibited their cars were local owners - with what they had in the garage. Cars that are not pictured here - but which attracted positive attention - included an original Citroen GSA Break, two Renault 4CVs in "mint condition". Renault 4CV became actually sold in the US, but no one would associate them with America. The fleet of vehicles also consisted of Harley-Davidsons, trikes, vans, trucks and cars that represented American icons.
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Trucks and vans
– It's a Scania , said my brother-in-law as we approached the area on foot. I thought it was "something American", but it was a Scania T 560. Scania's front truck can probably be safely called a classic. There are a few Scania cars in the USA, - but there have hardly been any regular imports. But with a V8 engine, there is something American about the car on display. The Chevy C20 Van pictured is not particularly unusual, but it is unusual to see a car in such good condition as this. We are used to these cars rusting, and ending up with a couple of seasons as Russian cars before being scrapped. The Dodge RAM is also not uncommon in our area, but it looks very good with the ocean in the background. Can you imagine California with a couple of surfboards on the back of the plane?
Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette generation 3 (C3) from the 70s has a shape that the whole world knows. It is a real American icon, especially with fat "side pipes" like the car in the main picture.
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson is also considered a typical American icon. Even new models have inherited elements from their predecessors. Thus, almost all Harleys can be considered classics even when they are new.
Other cars
The Simca Ariane doesn't just look like a car from the 50s - the colour, shape and engine are in American style. The Ford Mustang is an American icon, even in newer versions like this mk5 Mustang GT. The red Chevrolet Laguna from the early 70s with period California plates looks undeniably very American as well.
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