Monday 16th December 2019
Today, we take a walk about the village, and call in on the tourism office, and get some brochures and information on what is about the area, and some suggestions for Christmas day.
We grab some fruit and vegie from the local grocer, and not much more is done.
Tuesday, 17th December, 2019
We are going for a drive up to Font-Romeu today. It is a distance of 44 kms, and takes about an hour to drive. It is in the Pyrenees near the Spanish boarder and is one of the oldest ski resorts in France, and the oldest in the Pyrenees. It is at altidude of 1800 m and there was a good bit of snow around. Getting to Font Romeu consists of travelling very windy road, and a few hair pin bends.
We get to Font Romeu, and it is a delightful sight to see, all the snow about, so donned with our coats, and gloves we set off to find a couple of the suggested Resturants that might be open for Christmas day. We find the first one, and they are not going to open then, but did suggest another place. So of we go to find that one, and we call in at another place, and ask if they will be open for Christmas day lunch, but no, however it was suggested about another place that might be open, and the food was very good. So agian we head off to find this place, and we find it, and at once we knew it was the place to be if they were going to be open. We go inside, and not only are they going to be open, but the waitress that greets us, speaks english. So we make a reservation for Christmas day. Mission accomplished.
Now we head back to another eating place, and decide to have some lunch there, and it was very nice, although when I asked for a Rum and coke, the waitress came back to say they don't have coke, so I suggested Lemonade with the Rum. Abit later, the headwaiterd/ owner said he doesn't stock the american drinks, he keeps only French products. Fair enough.
A couple of places we have been to, when we ask if they speak English, the response is " if I must ". and the other response we got was " if I have to ". So very French.
We wander around the village, and I get to make a little snow person, but I didn't have the right ingredients to finish it. But I did get to throw a few snow balls.
Eventually we head back to our unit in Vernet les Bains. It has been a wonderful day, seeing all the snow and the shops selling snow equipment.
Wednesday, 18th December 2019
Not a lot done today, washing and general rest.
Thursday, 19th December 2019
We took a drive to a little community not far from here, called Villefranche, de Conflent. This village, is set behind a stone wall, and you can just feel that not much has changed over the years. One can imagine what life was like behind the walls, with a Mountain on one side, and the wall all the way around. The town dates back to 1098, and was fortified due of its strategic position. Another draw card to this place is the huge fort that is sitting high up above this town. It is also the place where one can catch the yellow train, that makes its way up through the mountains. We plan to take this at some point in time. There is a total of about 6 streets, and a population of 218. There are a lot of interesting Artisian shops selling glass ornaments and jewellery, clothing, and a variety of other goods. Also there was a good few resturants, which, one would assume they have a lot tourist that visit in the right season.
We keep wandering, buy some chocolates made on site, and then have some lunch. After we have eaten, we try to find the Railway station, and follow the signs pointing in the direction of the station. We go through more of the ancient building and structures, across the rail lines, and keep walking up a road for a little way. Eventually, someone comes along, and Bob asks where about the station is, and it guided to where it is verbally. We follow the directions given, and go across teh foot bridge, andsee that the station is accessable by car, so we head back to the car and find the entry point for the railway.
We go inside the station, and there is no one to be seen. We wait for a little while, and then a Police man comes in and eventually a woman comes to the counter to serve us. We are told that the trains are not running due to the transport strike that is happening at the moment. Bummer.
Hopefully, it will be resolved soon, and we will be able to go on the little yellow train.
On the way back to Vernet les Bains, we stop at the supermarket, and grab a few things.
Another enjoyable day is done.
Friday, 20th December 2019
Today we are headed into Perpignan, as Bob has an appointment with a Chiropractor. Perpignan is 56 kms away, or 49 mins, and dates back to the Roman times.
The appointment is at 11, and we try to find a park close to where we have to go, but no luck, so we continue our sure further afield. We find a parking area, and it has a lovely open park, with a water fountain. A little walk back the way we came, brings us to where the chiropractor is, and Bob is seen to by a lovely French woman.
After we have finished with the chiro, we go on to explore the city around us. It is a very lovely town, with a river flowing through it, and a well kept park. We walk towards a shopping complex as we are both in need of a comfort stop, and on our way discover another Christmas market. So after we have attended to urgent business, we wander aimlessly down the markets, and there are many wonderful things to be seen, wooden toy, with working parts, much like a mechano set, but made in wood. Different types of foods, and wines and all things market. After we have walked through the markets we head to the other side of the river, to where there seems to be just as much business. and older parts of the town. Again wandering aimless through the streets, and taking in the views and shops, it just never seems to end. We end up back where we started, and find a resturant to have a bite to eat, and then we head off.
We get back and find a reasonable park, and the day is concluded.
Saturday, 21st December 2019
This morning we had a quiet morning, and then decided to go into Prades for a look about the place. We drove through this place on our way to Vernet les Bains, and here we are today exploring it further. As we drive through the town, it becomes apparent that there is a something going on as some of the streets are blocked off. Traffic is being redirected and we find a street to park in and check out the town. In the middle of town is a Christmas fair happening. A few rides for the children, and pony rides, and mery go rounds and the shooting gallery. We leave this area, and walk down more of the streets, and again, the shops are closed for the mid day break. We go back to the car, and decide to do a Christmas shop for us, and find a Super U, and get the required items for our Christmas day snacks.
Sunday, 22nd December 2019
A day of relaxing today.
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