Keeping the Good Weather

Turning for home means a long drive up through France. I have been looking at the weather and in Northern France it is pants. So I decided to go to the Ardeche region, and in particular the Ceze Valley.

So here we go, next stage, destination Barjac.

Almost there,  Barjac, and the temperature is still 30degC, great...

So the Ceze River is just now languid and peaceful.  The water is crystal clear and full of healthy fish

They have been cutting a new road in the gorge, which will get deeper as we go. (see next post)

This is the cutest Office de Tourisme you will ever find.  The young lady in charge was  very helpful.

Lavender is a staple crop in these parts, great fields of it....

So, here we are in Barjac. Park the bike and go for a walk about. Just look for litter in these next pics, see if you can spot any.

The ubiquitous Petanque pitch

That looks promising, after all I have just cycled 5 miles to get here and it is lunchtime!

Yes, that'l do nicely!

And this is just starters! With a 'demi' of vin locale, very nice.

Going for a wander there are some wonderful contrasting textures. 

And delightful squares

Why is it always blue in France?

Spotted any litter yet?

I think I would like to live in a house with this on the door

Looking immediately back from 'serenity' is this view. Magic

Farewell Barjac, vinyards, blue sky, fertile land, marvellous.  I think I will go back.

Hydro, this is for you!

One of the great pleasures about travelling is that you sometimes meet lovely people who are interesting, interested and are an example of contained capability and plain good fun.

Last night we spent the evening reminiscing and putting the world to rights, with informed comments and clever arguments, expert opinions and clear common sense that can only be expressed by senior people who are experienced and knowledgeable about this world. Its a pity that nobody else was listening...Ha!

I suspect that all our good advice and experience will go unheard, as it does.

But, Hydro and S***e, thanks for dinner. I enjoyed it immensely.

So this post is about being a beach bum, going places meeting people and seeing things, but remember Europe is a cold place, wet and windy and here at the moment suffering from an infestation of 'Moustique Tigre'

I have not posted since the Monserrat, mainly because the weather has been bad with snow and storms. It was so bad I missed out going to Andorra and just drove up into France for a couple of days.

But now heading east, south of Toulouse, there was fresh snow on the Pyrenees in the region I had previously been through. I wonder just what time of year you can visit these parts without getting snowed-in!

But now I have arrived in SW France and for lunch we have 'moules et Frites" at the 'Sea Side'. In reality the restaurant was empty.

But since last year they have added about 20ft of boardwalk to the promenade at the port, no doubt funded by the EU and paid for by the UK taxpayer. Get working, you Brits are paying for this!

Beach bums need a beach bar....

And a beach!

And if you are fed up with one beach, just move along to the next.
Plage Richelieu, Agde, France.

The Marina is packed full of yachts and sailing boats. Whether they ever move and go to sea  is debatable.

Lots of tourist traps, just waiting for the season to start.

But then, as usual, the storms come back and we are  battened down and wishing we were somewhere else.

I am just glad I brought the fan heater!


End of post

The Second Surprise, Montserrat

My second surprise for Catalunya is the range of mountains, the Montserrat. I didn't know about them, I didn't even think they existed, and the nearest I got to them previously was Montserrat Cabal the opera singer who duo'd with Freddy Mercury on Barcelona all those years ago.

But approaching from the South West the range is impressive and dominating 

There is a high level road that runs around the northern slopes, with spectacular views and big big drops over the edges.

The road is cut into the mountain and is enjoyed by thrill seeking motorcyclists and pedal cyclists alike 

The camera lies, it is more dominating than this.

Religious establishments abound, funny that.

Rock formations of the most unusual sort.

But I was heading north, this was the parting view.

And heading into this lot....Thunderstorms, sleet, driving rain and the temperature plummeted from 28 to 9 degrees is 20 miles. In fact I can still see snow on the Pyrenean mountains from here, where I type.

Barcelona

I have been beating myself up a bit for not going places I should and seeing tourist sites I aught to. Driving about Europe and just lazing in the sunshine (when I can find it) is only half what I should be doing and not getting the best out of my travels.
So, I am in Catalonia and I arranged to go to Barcelona, selected the location of a campsite in Sitges to link into the city and got on the local bus into the centre.
The following is my account of the sites I saw in the day that I was there. This was just a scouting visit really, but I walked for miles and was knackered by the end of the day.

Well, low and behold we have red double decker sightseeing buses, three in a row, but no doubt where we are. I have just got off the local Mon-Bus from Sitges, 20 miles Euro3.60.

Catalunya Square, warm and sunny with everybody just enjoying the sunshine.

I didn't know it but Barcelona in part is bisected by a wide boulevard called La Rambla. It happens to run south to the port where I had just arrived on the local bus from Catalunya Square.

But it also happens to be the domain of pickpockets, mountebanks, swindlers and thieves, hence the heavy police presence. Just look at all those innocent people enjoying a stroll in the sunshine like me, but I kept 'me-hand-on-me-halfpenny' just in case. I was approached on several occasions, 'what's the time mister?' or some other dubious invitation from a swarthy individual that was suspicious so I gave them the stiff ignoring.

Just taking the occasional detour from the main drag finds spectacular  sights like this.

But nothing like the stupendous market full of food delicacies.
La Boqueria is magic!

http://www.barcelona-tourist-travel-guide.com/la-boqueria.html

Synchronised hamming!

How they keep this lot fresh I do not know, but it looks fabulous.  There are loads of fresh fish stalls the like of which you have never seen.

Clever Marco, special marketing to jack up the return!

Locals taking advantage of the goods on offer.

And side shows for all, busy as anything.

There was an establishment of the non-local variety. It was empty at the time.  ;-}

But La Rambla continue onwards through the foodie section

to the arty section 

and finally to the Harbour.

This must be the fanciest Harbour Master's office in all the world!

But there was a fancy Yacht race going on and the contenders were arriving back in he marina.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Trofeo-Conde-de-Godo---Azzurra-and-Quantum-share-overall-lead/97719

This bloke seems to be part of it.

But back into the old town and the old narrow streets.

Arriving at the 'Cathedral' I refuse to pay, along with loads of others  such a lot for what to me seems a bit of mundane architecture. After all, we were expecting Goudy, and his works are miles away!

But Barcelona is a big Provincial city, with pretensions of national identity for Catalunya. It is certainly energetic, dynamic and bold and has far more to offer than I show here. Maybe it would be worth several more visits to find out, who knows.