when one travels overseas - one sees what freedom looks like - it's the absence of things that are the giveaway
on the weekend - we had a do in Burgundy France - Auxerre.
spot the differences ----
Auxerre - a river - a riverside - a public nosh up day - lots of wine, lots of food, lots of people
Devonport Tasmania - a river - a riverside, a public nosh up day - lots of wine, lots of food, lots of people
(the last year I was in Oz)
France - the riverside walkway is kept open for all ----------------- the entry to the whole show - is free
no gates, no fences, no resistance ----------- just a few Gendarmes waddling about and a few Municipal police looking like they need a nanna nap
Tasmania Australia - they block the road AND footways - you can't go through - even if you live in that bloody street - you have to pay to enter the nosh up - there's security people at every entry and exit point
there's the difference in Oz to one other nation - France
I had a similar experience in Germany last year - it's on video on here somewhere
Launceston - same deal - Festivale - entry fee, security - all the usual Aussie stuff
There are paid food festivals in France - they are less common by far than the free ones - but, you pay a small fee to get in - and, the food is from there on - copious, free, as are the drinks etc.
but, in the main - there's no gates, no fences, no security armies, no fees
