We had a great time and really enjoyed every place we visited, though the trip would have been even better if the weather had cooperated a bit more. We went from rain and snow in the Midi-Pyrénées to 120 kilometer an hour winds in Languedoc-Roussillon with barely any sun or blue skies, despite the weather forecast prior to leaving. And this past weekend it certainly felt like winter decided to make it's appearance in France! Regardless, we decided to make the most of it and though we were prevented from doing some of what we had planned because of the weather (for example the road to the Château de Monségur was closed because of snow so we not only couldn't visit the château, but we also couldn't even get a view of it because of all the snow), we still had an incredible time and are already planning to go back and explore some more in the spring/summer.
Medieval city of Mirepoix
Foix and the Château de Foix above the city
View over Foix from the château. Lionel is grinning like crazy because he was so happy to be in Foix. He lived there for 4 years as a kid and hasn't been back in 25 years. He really enjoyed seeing the city again and showing me where he used to live, play and go to school.
The ruins of the Château de Peyrepertuse perched high on a mountain
A view of the Château de Quéribus
Les Gorges de Galamus
Collioure, an adorable town on the Mediterranean
visiting Collioure
Collioure
Collioure
An étang near Peyriac-de-Mer
Flamingos! I was incredibly excited to see tons of flamingos in their natural habitat in the étangs along the Mediterranean coast in Languedoc-Roussillon
Another étang along the coast
more flamingos!
view over the Mediterranean from Cap Leucate
Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Hiking up to the Châteaux de Lastours, four châteaux situated on the same mountaintop
An overlook onto the Châteaux de Lastours
the four Châteaux de Lastours
Then yesterday was our "anniversaire de rencontre" as Lionel likes to put it...8 years since we met one fateful night at a bar in Paris! It's easy for us to remember the date since it's only four days after our wedding anniversary.
We also got some great news over the weekend. While we were visiting Collioure on Friday Lionel's phone rang and when he answered it was a job offer after an interview he had last Wednesday! So Friday night we spent the night in Perpignan and went out to celebrate not only our anniversary but also Lionel's new job! He starts on Monday and I'm so happy for him! I know he's extremely relieved to finally have found something and he's really looking forward to starting work. Looks like things really are falling into place!
Great pics! What a lovely region! I love to celebrate T-day even though I'm in France, too. Really important I think for us expats to keep this link with who we are.
ReplyDeleteI agree...both about the region being lovely and about celebrating Thanksgiving! I can't imagine not celebrating just because I live in France. It's a part of me!
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