Jim McMahon

One day in October, thousands of bleating sheep made their way through the streets of Madrid, Spain’s capital. They were led through the city by  shepherds, many in traditional outfits that included vests, black berets, and colorful scarves. They were following ancient herding routes to warmer spots down south for the winter. Hundreds of years ago, shepherds would have traversed the undeveloped countryside, but these days, the route runs right through some of the busiest sections of Madrid. The annual parade began in 1994 as part of the city’s Fiesta de la Trashumancia, a festival that celebrates the centuries-old tradition of seasonal livestock migration. Today locals and tourists alike line the way, snapping pictures and trying to pet the sheep. “It’s amazing,” Sandra van Arkelem, a visitor from the Netherlands, told Reuters. “So many people are joining and enjoying it.”