Les Volets Bleus Salleles-d'Aude

... walked... 1 hour later we were so close to the hotel that we just walked the rest of the way... it was about 5 km... not bad!!!
We got to the hotel and they let us check in right away (9am), it was sweet... we checked in and then walked to the medival city (that we passed but couldn't see in the fog), the city was about a kilometer away, we walked up to it and WOW, thats all >I can say... if you are ever in the South of France or passing through, you NEED to go there ...

... down next to me for 1 second...it was pretty entertaining haha. We asked at the train station where our hotel was but they could only tell us that it was too far to walk. So once it became light out we decided we'd go do some exploring. We were looking at a map and then some nice guy who didn't speak french passed us and ended up saying we should go to Tourist Information where they would be able to help us. Luckily it was only about 20 feet away...but ...

... every place where we have stayed for only one night. Claude and his family were very nice and we were very welcomed in their home. We took a group picture and then began the short jaunt to Carcassonne. We were their in 45 minutes. The view from the highway was spectacular!! I would have loved to have gotten a picture from there, but alas, I did not. The city started as a ...

... beach.

The crew pulled up anchor and left for Marseille around 1 PM just before we sat down for lunch. The captain wanted to get to Marseille before the approaching storm hit us and before the wind whipped up too many waves. No one was allowed to go on deck with the weather the way it was, except for the crew who were required to wear a life jacket, and a Man Over Board sensor and beacon. There are two sets of ...

Well, finally - after a false start setting out to pick up friends from Pau airport a day early! - first night: moored up alongside the Canal du Midi, just south of Beziers. Some very noisy ducks for company... Bit of a gloomy one weather-wise. Rained last night, but forecast suggests brightening up gradually as day goes on. Slowing our departure from ...

... bus office before it closes at 12:30 for lunch. The office which had lots of customers in it is now empty and my bag is in the corner, sticking out. I pretend as though everything is normal. I as k a question then pick up my bag.

The train station is a 20 minute walk. I have enough time to stop into a lovely, local restaurant. I have some melon with ham then duck. Very nice.

I take the train to Carcassonne. The trains are pretty nice for the most part ...

... toilets I have ever seen. There were two 'cubicles’ and they were those ones that clean themselves after every use, I use the term ‘clean’ VERY loosely! The cubicle on the right was broken and the cleaning shower was on continuously. The cubicle on the left stunk, had scum all over the seat, bowl and back of the toilet, and there was no toilet paper. The floor was wet and sticky thanks to the cleaning process. I was second to go in our group, armed with tissues ...

... there. You can either pay to go into the castle and explore or do what I did and pay to watch a very cheesy Jousting show. The whole thing was in French but it was pretty entertaining. There was good guys and bad guys and you had to boo and cheer. They did the jousts and then it usually lead to hand to hand combat with ...

... very well named) ordered a crusade against the Cathars and people who sheltered them, many atrocities took place. The people of the town of Beziers were told that they would be pardoned if they surrendered. Once they did the crusaders burned everyone at the stake. In Carcassonne, the people were spared but their lord was imprisoned. He didn't survive long. That was the only time that Carcassone fell after it was fortified.

... french. Fun though. We also met some of the local ex pats. They were so amazing, and had had very exciting lives. Rachel put on a dinner party on the Wednesday, it was a full on french feast. Starting with and aperitif finishing with a fabulous Panacotta. A range of lovely wines were also consumed. Thank you Rachel and Brain, we had a fantastic time.