DUCK RACE, PERPIGNAN: THIS SHOULD QUACK YOU UP!

A rubber duck race on the Basse, (tributary of the Têt),  the pretty river that meanders through the centre of Perpigan? Might sound quackers….but should be a fun family day out!

Organised (suprisingly) by the ‘Aushopping’ group, bringing together the different shops at the Porte d’Espagne shopping centre outside Perpignan, hundreds of rubber duckies will compete in this quack-sion filled, original plastic duck race, full of suprises for the winning duck….or at least its owner.

Each duck, identified by a number and associated with a participant, will be released into the River Basse opposite Hippopotamus restaurant. They will then be carried by the current, defying natural obstacles by fair means or foul, to the bridge, near the Castillet, where victory will be decided, and prizes awarded.

And here’s something to ruffle your feathers: the first prize is a specduckular FIAT 600! Second and third prizes will be Aushopping gift cards worth €1,000 and €500, so not to be quacked at!

To adopt a duck and try your luck, all you need to do is pay €5, either online or directly at the Auchan shopping centre.

And apart from the fun of the race and the great prizes, all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Association Maison Soleil de Perpignan  which works to raise awareness of culture among young people.

Here’s how it works:

Adopt a rubber duck and you will be given its number, and become its spiritual coach
On September 13, all ducks will be released into the river in Perpignan, right in front of the Hippopotamus near the Castillet!
Come and cheer on your duck and hope that it crosses the finish line first! If it does,  you’ll leave with a brand new FIAT 600 key in hand.

It’s fun, it’s crazy, and it’s for a good cause, as the proceeds will be donated to the MAISON SOLEIL association in Perpignan to raise awareness of culture among young people.

(Although Barbie girl would tell us that made of plastic is fantastic, environmentalists don’t agree. Nor do many of the businesses of Perpignan centre who feel that  it’s suitable at that time of year when visitors should be concentrating on shopping…. Aushopping promise that no duck will be left behind in the clear-up)

Rubber duck joke to get you in the mood!

Un canard entre dans une épicerie et demande au patron:
“Vous avez de la nourriture pour canards ?”

Le patron répond
«Nous n’en avons pas. Ici nous vendons de la nourriture pour les gens. »

Le canard s’en va et revient le lendemain à la même heure.
“Vous avez de la nourriture pour canards ?”

Le patron, un peu énervé, réplique:
“Je t’ai déjà dit qu’il n’y en a pas ici ! Va-t’en ! »

Le lendemain à la même heure, le canard revient.
“Vous avez de la nourriture pour canards ?”

Le patron, maintenant très en colère réplique:
“Je t’ai déjà dit qu’il n’y en a pas ici ! Va-t’en ! Si tu reviens demain, je te cloue le bec sur le comptoir...”

Le lendemain, le canard se représente.

“Vous avez des clous ?”

Le patron répond que non. Et le canard demande

“Et vous avez de la nourriture pour canards ?”

Some Useful Vocabulary

Un canard

– duck
La nourriture – food
Nous n’en avons pas – we don’t have any
Il revient – he comes back
Le lendemain – the next day
En colère – angry
Va-t’en – go away
Je te cloue – I will nail you
Un bec – beak
Le comptoir – counter
Un clou – a nail