After the dramatic time in India and Bhutan we returned to the UK for the month of December, to recharge the batteries, pay the bills and spend the Christmas season with family and friends. The long range weather forecast for our ferry to France was not promising, with winds over 50 knots predicted, so we opted for Le Shuttle and a drive to Switzerland instead. This gave us a few days together with both our girls, a rare opportunity these days, and we made the most of it over New Year before driving down to our rented accommodation in Neffies, Languedoc.
This part of France was blessed with a very mild, warm winter and we were thankful not to be in the floods in Britain during January and February. From our location there is much to do and over the 3 months we covered a large area, usually on day trips but in some cases for longer.
The first of these excursions was to Font Romeu in The Pyrenees, leaving bright sunshine at sea level we found ourselves in a heavy snowstorm which is interesting without snow tyres but we crawled into town and stayed the night as planned, the following day revealed a stunning landscape.
We played a few rounds of golf and took daily walks through the vineyards, up in the hills or along the Canal du Midi.
We also ventured into Spain, just a 2 hour drive to Cadeques on the Costa Brava, The Dali Museum
(highly recommended) in Figueres, various medieval towns in the region and Girona, well worth visiting.
Besalu is one of the old Catalan towns just north of Girona.
We were fortunate to have a number of friends visit for varying lengths of stay and we were able to show them a variety of places including: Carcassonne, Nimes, Montpellier, the caves at Roquefort,
Pezenas, Bezier and this little jewel at the border, Collioure. Famous for anchovies and Banyuls red wine we liked it so much we went twice.
Neffies is conveniently located at the foothills of the Herault within a 30 minute drive of the Etang de Thau. Perhaps our favourite circuit was to start in Meze for coffee and a walk around the port before a seafood lunch in Bouzigues overlooking the oyster beds, followed by a drive to Sete and the spectacular viewpoint of Saint Clair from where one can see down the coast towards Spain, up to Montpellier and across the Etang to the mountains of the Herault and the Pyrenees.
Every time we went the skies were blue and clear and you could see for miles.
Our French has improved, our appreciation of the food, wine and people of France has grown and we plan to return again soon. Special thanks to our hosts at Maison Dix, Erica and John. You won't find a better place to stay than at their house in Neffies.
This part of France was blessed with a very mild, warm winter and we were thankful not to be in the floods in Britain during January and February. From our location there is much to do and over the 3 months we covered a large area, usually on day trips but in some cases for longer.
The first of these excursions was to Font Romeu in The Pyrenees, leaving bright sunshine at sea level we found ourselves in a heavy snowstorm which is interesting without snow tyres but we crawled into town and stayed the night as planned, the following day revealed a stunning landscape.
We played a few rounds of golf and took daily walks through the vineyards, up in the hills or along the Canal du Midi.
We also ventured into Spain, just a 2 hour drive to Cadeques on the Costa Brava, The Dali Museum
(highly recommended) in Figueres, various medieval towns in the region and Girona, well worth visiting.
Besalu is one of the old Catalan towns just north of Girona.
We were fortunate to have a number of friends visit for varying lengths of stay and we were able to show them a variety of places including: Carcassonne, Nimes, Montpellier, the caves at Roquefort,
Pezenas, Bezier and this little jewel at the border, Collioure. Famous for anchovies and Banyuls red wine we liked it so much we went twice.
Neffies is conveniently located at the foothills of the Herault within a 30 minute drive of the Etang de Thau. Perhaps our favourite circuit was to start in Meze for coffee and a walk around the port before a seafood lunch in Bouzigues overlooking the oyster beds, followed by a drive to Sete and the spectacular viewpoint of Saint Clair from where one can see down the coast towards Spain, up to Montpellier and across the Etang to the mountains of the Herault and the Pyrenees.
Every time we went the skies were blue and clear and you could see for miles.
Our French has improved, our appreciation of the food, wine and people of France has grown and we plan to return again soon. Special thanks to our hosts at Maison Dix, Erica and John. You won't find a better place to stay than at their house in Neffies.
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