54 Days on the Moon

[drron]

I now had to find a place for lunch with a price cap of 20.5 Euro. Found a place with a 3 course lunch for 16.5 E. Now several restaurants had a 3 course lunch for under 20 E but often the first course was duck gizzard salad,duck heart salad,black sausage salad or a warm goat's cheese salad. This place at least had a French onion soup. I didn't hold much hope that the starter and dessert would be good so I wasn't disappointed. But it was a cold day and I felt a cassoulet would be good. Fortunately here is was hearty and nice.

 

[drron]

I had decided the place was very much just a tourist trap. I still had a couple of hours to while away so I decided to walk down to the village in the valley. I had hoped to find a place with something nice to spend my 4 euro on. Sadly it was not to be as most places were closed and those open had prices the same as on the top of the hill.

I left by the back door -the Aude gate. So called because at the bottom was the Aude river.

 

[drron]

A lovely old village church on reaching the village. Unfortunately locked up. Some history.







The village was very quiet.

 

[drron]

A stroll down to the river.

The school with a great view.












A nice little park with spring flowers.

 

[drron]

And a scenic river Aude.







Then time to head for the castle.

 

[drron]

A funny thing happened here. A group of young Asians speaking German wereheading up to the Citeon the other side of the road. In the middle of the road was a post that could retract when activated by an authorised vehicle. One of the youngsters was sitting on the pole with legs swinging. A BMW came up the road and the young fellow didn't move. The post retracted and he ended up on his derriere.

 

[drron]

It actually was a lot quicker than I thought it would be so did go back inside.



And was lucky to find no one on the drawbridge.












And I found a place that was possibly the cheapest place to eat so I treated myself to a crepe with sugar and lemon which has always been a favourite of mine. It only cost 2.5 euros and had table service with a smile in a pleasant little courtyard.

 

[drron]

And this was the place with their price lists.






Back outside past the market.


Still had 30 minutes until the bus was leaving so looked around the cemetery.

 

[drron]

Now I was on bus number 1 out of 4. However the order of leaving Carcassone was 4,3,2,1. I was hoping I would get back to the ship for trivia at 4.45pm and it was now 3 pm.
A couple of views first the memorial to the soldiers of the local people in the 13th century when they were invaded by the French Army on the orders of the Pope. The French won.


Next Narbonne and it's cathedral..

 

[drron]

More from the bus.




La canal de Midi.


Another ferry arrives.


Another is alongside.


But I arrived for trivia 1 minute before we started. Shared first place even though we scored 18.5 points and were the only team to get 2 questions right.
And the port.

The Moon had to leave Sete early as the Port Authorities had booked another ship into the berth 4 hours before the Moon's scheduled departure.

 

[drron]

Dinner in Atlantide again.

For starters Mrsdrron had the mushroom and cheese turnover and I the red prawns. Both enjoyable.




I had the Tomato soup. Brilliant as usual.

Mrsdrron went with the Italian veal chop. Couldn't finish it but it was lovely. And I went with the lamb Rogan Josh and it was just as requested -extra spicy. Really good.



We passed on desserts.

Back in the room they had changed our orchid.

 

[drron]

Next morning steaming in to Marseille.

 

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Now on the bus for the Highlights of Marseille.

 

[drron]

Where lots of tourists go to see where a fictional character was imprisoned. The Count of Monte Christo.

 

[drron]

A drive up narrow roads to a hilltop church/ fortress, Notre Dame de la Garde.








Great views.

 

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Now back on the bus and downhill.

 

[drron]

Evidence of the strikes in France.