Ceret Encore!

For the last couple of days of Madame Susan and Monsieur Mark’s adventure, we left it up to them to choose how active/ busy they wanted to be. 

It was decided it was time to wind down a bit and we really hadn’t spent that much time in the area of Céret and Maureillas-las-Illas. 

Wednesday (25th September 2019) we headed into Céret for just a wander, a supply pickup (wine) and some lunch. 

We arrived mid morning. 

It was an overcast day with heavy clouds, the rain held off and the temperatures remained warm.

This is still a favourite view taken from the Ciel Bleu apartment balcony overlooking Place de la Liberte (September 2017). 

Céret is known as the “Mecca of Cubism”. 

Throughout the town you will find reproduction panels of paintings by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andre Masson, Chaim Soutine, Juan Gris and many more. 

These panels are placed in locations where a view was painted by the artist ... so you can see the painting and the actual view. I believe there are 20 of these throughout the town.

 

This is a reproduction of “Les Platanes a Céret, Place de la Liberté 1920” by Chaim Soutine, English translation “the Plane Trees in Céret. 

We wandered throughout the town, checking out various shops and sights.  

It might have been laundry day for some ...

Then it soon became the obligatory hour for “dejeuner” ... lunch. 

No alfresco lunch today. 

It was warm enough but the clouds looked heavy with rain so we opted for an inside table at Quattrocento. 

A delicious lunch and wine was enjoyed. 

Our starter ....

After lunch we each ventured on our own ... for us it was a memory walk and for Madame Susan and Monsieur Mark a time for them to explore on their own. 

Of course, Monsieur Honey needed to stop in at the Brocante. 

Here we saw a depiction of the Place des Neuf Jets (the square where we had just had lunch). 

Some street art in Ceret 

We rendezvoused at Bar Pablo for an apero before heading back to Maureillas-las-Illas 

Our last stop of the day was the supermarket for some of Madame Susan’s favourite in France ... 

on our shopping list today.

I’ll be back soon, for now I’m going to go enjoy the sunshine and sea air in Florida ... I’ve promised myself to finish the posts! 

A Taste of Céret

Our first couple of days were spent in and around Maureillas-las-Illas.

Early morning view from the Juliet balcony in our third floor master bedroom. 

We headed to Céret for a wander, lunch and a grocery shop at a larger supermarket. 

The Modern Art Museum ...

The sails/kites flying in the wind on Rue Saint-Ferréol 

The Maire ...

A colourful street ... 

Some owls hanging around in one of the shops ...

Lunch in Place des Neuf Jets at Quattrocento ... with views of the fountain that dates back to 1313.

The obligatory photo in front of Picasso’s fountain ... Madame Susan et Monsieur Mark.

Night time views from the upper terrace off of the fourth floor master suite ... where we enjoyed evening aperos.

Ceret is a favour spot of Monsieur Honey and I. 

Feeling at Home in Ceret!

We made our home base in Céret, France from September 19th to October 1st, 2017. 

Céret is a border town located in southwestern France at the foothills of the Pyrénées with both French and Catalan influences. 

And when I say home base, I mean we are quite comfortable staying here in the same apartment we’ve rented for the past three years.

 “Ciel Bleu” is perfectly located in Place de la Liberté close to the shops to fulfill our every need and want from “boulangeries, boucheries, pâtisseries” to wine shops. 

There is also a fresh fruit and vegetable seller right across the street  .... all is within easy walking distance. 

And let’s not forget the many cafés and restaurants, plus there is the gigantic Market that takes over the many streets of Ceret on Saturday mornings.

On our first full day, we strolled the many streets and lanes reacquainting ourselves with the town ... checking out what was still the same and what had changed.

 This view from “Ciel Bleu’s” balcony may be familiar! 

I never tire of looking out to the mountains, people watching in the Place de la Liberté and waving Bonjour to the neighbours.

And views of the blue, blue skies over the tile rooftops ...

The beautiful dappled sunlight ... 

Some of the usual characters are still hanging around ... 

The Mairie adorned by both the French and Catalan flags! 

 This is the latest time in the year that we have visited Ceret and even though the sun shines brightly with warmth, signs of Fall/Autumn are evident in the changing colours of the leaves. 

The oh so beautiful, majestic tall plane trees that line the streets! 

On our stroll back home we sauntered through La Place des Neuf Jets and as Monsieur Honey looked up he saw our Kiwi friend, John hanging out his fourth floor window (not literally)  waving Bonjour and extending an invitation to come up. 

We enjoyed reconnecting / catching up with Karen and John who this year had only arrived early on in September from New Zealand. They split their time between their homes in New Zealand and their meticulously, restored apartment home in Ceret.  

We came away with a couple of must try restaurant recommendations. 

We exchanged “a bientôts “ and hopefully we will meet up again before our stay in Ceret is over. 

We had an enjoyable day and quickly all became familiar again. 

What will we be doing tomorrow? 

Fountain of Youths in Ceret?

A tour of the Fountains of Ceret ... as my odometer turned over another year and I celebrated another Birthday I wondered if there was a "Fountain of Youth". 

The town of Ceret has some beautiful fountains that resemble pieces of art and others that are just fountains! 

Does the water in these colourful, artfully crafted fountains have any special properties?

Fontaine de la Sardane de la Paix (J.J. Damville) located in place Picasso.

                

La Fontaine des Neuf Jets- located in the place des Neuf Jets

This is a favourite more quiet square ... but the water has yet to run in this fountain.

Not sure what the name is of this fountain ... but it is a very peaceful spot behind the Church.

                                                         

A favourite of the pigeons also ...

I can just hear the conversation  ... okay you go first, no you go first ... 

Ready, Set, Go ... 

A Memorial Fountain ...

                                          

A fountain in one of the roundabouts ...

    

A "Modern" fountain near the Museum of Modern Art ...

                                  

Someone searching for the "Fountain of Youth"!

I think I found it already but not in the flowing waters of the fountains!

"There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. 

When you learn to tap this source you will truly have defeated age."  ... Sophia Loren

Birthday Lunch at L'Atelier de Fred

In several of the reviews written about the apartment we are renting in Ceret, lunch or dinner at "Fred's" is a must.

To celebrate my birthday we went for lunch on Friday.

We were not disappointed. It was a most fabulous experience beginning to end.

                  

                                         

Once seated we were presented with the wine list and menu board and a trio of nibbles of olives, tapenade toasts and dry sausage.

Monsieur ordered a bottle of Rosé, which was delicious! 

A charming gentleman arrived at our table to take our orders ... this was none other than "Fred".

We had assumed "Fred" was the chef, alas he is the properietor and does a fantastic job of running his restaurant. 

He was helpful with our menu selections and attentive throughout the service. 

Something I especially liked there was no clutter of wine bottles/ water bottles on the tables.

Your bottle of wine is placed in an ice bucket on the bar ... and our glasses were quietly and magically refilled at the correct time.

A three course menu with your choice from three different starters, three main dishes and three desserts!

Delicious food, artfully presented!

The green asparagus with goat cheese mousse (light and fluffy like foam) with julienned beets, orange slices served on thin wafers similar to Melba toasts, adorned with a brightly coloured edible "Nasturtium" blossom! This was my starter choice and it was "Très, Très Bon!"

Monsieur Honey enjoyed the salmon carpaccio with delicate citrus flavours served with in season green asparagus, julienned beets, slices of citrus (Orange) and pine nuts. Delicious!

For my main course ... It was the beef (faux filet /sirloin) served with the freshest melange of vegetables ...  of peas, mushrooms and onions,

I am always leery about ordering a steak, I'm not sure if it is because I was a butcher's daughter and some of the cuts are unfamiliar. 

Fred assured me it was a good choice and it would be tender and cooked the way I wanted it.

He was absolutely right!

It was melt in your mouth tender, flavourful and grilled perfectly.

Msr. Honey's selection, the duck breast cooked to his specifications topped with a tempura battered shrimp served over creamy mashed potatoes. Another delicious dish!

This was my "Birthday Cake" of choice ... Something like a spring roll filled with a cherry filled cream, served with salted caramel sauce and a cherry ice cream.  The best!

Msr. chose the Saffron Creme Brûlée... another winner.

Fred opened this restaurant approximately two years ago, and had previously been in business for about eighteen years.

Merci beaucoup to Fred and staff! 

Reservations highly recommended.

L'Atelier de Fred

Restaurant

12, rue Saint Ferreol

66400 Céret

 

Telephone 04 68 95 47 41

Email ...  atelierdefred66@gmail.com