Between Avignon and Arles we were stunned to see a considerable amount of Rice under cultivation. I had no idea France had any sort of rice industry. We were not certain it was rice but it looked very much like it – perhaps another topic for some further study.
At Arles the highlights were two - In the order – a French apple tart served with local ice cream and café de crème at a small but terribly expensive café at the foot ot the roman ruins and a Roman Amphitheatre that is now used as a bullfighting arena (apparently without any harm to the bulls).While the theatre is in amazing condition and it was quite an experience to wander through the circular passage ways that make up the entries and egresses from the both the amphitheatre seating and the area surface itself, the apple tart was something that, had the café existed, the Christians would have chosen as their last meal before entering centre stage at the focal point of activity within the arena.
From Arles we wandered down toward Sete past canals that seemed ideal for Pam and Andrews bike riding activities and lakes that served as a refuges for hundreds (thousands?) of pink flamingos. The flocks that we saw were either quite young or they did not get as much access to carotene as their Mexican cousins as they were a much lighter colour than those we saw at Los Regos.
The motorway trip to Carcassonne was rapid and an experience. I did notice that at 130kph the fuel consumption of the little 1.4 litre Peugeot 207 started to approach 10litres per 100 kilometres - Having said that it is a great little car. We love it.
We have decided that having booked our accommodation ahead on the internet and having received what we thought were real bargains we should prepare ourselves for disappointment by simply rating each one in reverse order based on the number of bottles of red wine we needed to consume to make the accommodation feel adequate. We approached Carcassonne looking for places to buy at least three bottles. To our pleasure and surprise the wine was not required for the purposes of accommodation renovation. The Ibis overlooks Gambetta Square and is a neat and tidy and well priced at 45 euros.
Dinner was just on the other side of the square where we partook of a bean, duck, bacon and sausage stew – a local speciality known as Couiselet. It comes in a large bowl and is really delicious with subtle flavours and variety of textures. I doubt that there would be many people who could manage to e consume the entire bowl.
3 comments:
What A coindidence, just watched a docie on the making of that dish in France and the different variations in each area. So have seen some of what you're seeing now. The docie was by that bloke who travels on a barge on the riverways of France - great show. Getting very excited about July - Don't wear yourselves out!!! Trudy
OK you are looking well and it looks more travel than work.
How do I insert a picture to prove that you should be fishing?
Good travelling and cheers.
Leo
To Trudy: that would be Rick Steves.
Re the cycling around the marsh area near Arles; We took the train from Sete at the end of the Canal du Midi to Nimes then cycled via what is known as the Camargue (where the flamingoes are) to Arles. Despite a major wrong turn that had us ride 95 kms! (rather than 62 kms...), it was a lovely day's riding.
Pam
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