A Garden Party in Cerét

Our morning started with a stroll around town and a café stop for a coffee.

We didn’t have too much planned for today. We were actually looking forward to some down time after our busy cruise life. 

Based on the good reviews that we were given by our Kiwi friends, we decided to check out the new restaurant in town.

I messaged the restaurant and made a 1 pm reservation for lunch on the terrace. 

We arrived at the appointed time to a full house.

I was very pleased that we had made a reservation. 

The weather was very accommodating and cooperative which we appreciated. 

Our mantra while travelling in Europe is to “take advantage of as much alfresco dining as we can”. It’s already September 21st and you just don’t know when we will be able to eat outside again. I’m sure we won’t be able to when we arrive back home in October, unless we are treated to a balmy Indian Summer in Canada.   

It was a magic day in the garden with shade provided the beautiful mulberry tree and umbrellas. 

                                        

We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon, eating deliciously prepared food and sipping some cold rosé in the garden. 

We chose the “menu du jour” ... three courses, a starter, a main dish and dessert! 

We can now also highly recommend “le jardin Restaurant” and would definitely go back when we are visiting this area of France again. 

           

                                      

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? 

On Our Way from Spain to France

After a good night’s sleep and another delicious buffet breakfast at the Hotel Curious;  we ventured out for a last stroll in the neighbourhood. 

Our hotel was located on Calle Carme just 200 meters off Las Ramblas. It was the perfect location for us as we only had one day in the city on each end of the cruise.

I haven’t quite found out the answer to whether it is “La Rambla”or “Las Ramblas” ... both spellings are found in everything I’ve read.

This morning, we finally checked out the most famous market in Barcelona “ Boqueria Market”. 

What a colourful place. A feast for all five senses! 

The sights, smells, sounds, tastes and touch of a great shopping experience to discover a new culture. I was sorry we hadn’t been here longer to be able to fully enjoy all the market had to offer. 

Many varieties of fresh peppers in any colour, shape or size! 

Anyone want to try the emu eggs? 

Food to go not French fries ... a little tapas (dried sausages)! Yummy.

What a hive of activity in this wonderful covered marketplace! 

After our morning in the “hood” we caught our cab to the Barcelona Sants train station for the next leg of our adventure.

Caught the fast train to Perpignan, France (a short travel time of under an hour and a half) where we picked up our rental car and drove to Céret, France.

The view from the train window ...

We’ve arrived ... we treated ourselves to a welcome back “verre de vin rose “!

The view from the balcony at Ciel Bleu apartment in Céret, France ... 

 

Stay tuned for many more photos and stories that I will share about of our 2017 adventure ...our two weeks in Céret, day trips where discovered some very special places and our final week spent in the Lot Valley.