If you’re looking for a blog about working on the house look away now, this is just our holiday photo slide show. Read it or not at your will!

Saturday

It’s early, well for me at least. I have to get up to leave by 10am! What kind of a holiday is this?!

After our last car trip we realised that we can take lots more things than in a car, not least the lovely new cooler, sorry, chilli-bin (in kiwi-speak) that Matt bought. Bin full and all ready to go we were less than 10 minutes later than planned out the door, which is a minor miracle. I also packed like a Brit – this is my first aid kit.

I messaged Jonny and Cress to let them know we were on our way and they were there ready with bags outside. Impressive. Matt drove and did well. We did see Carasonne on the way and it was exactly as it looks in the game. I however decided where we went for lunch. I should not be trusted. I was sold by the pandas. And this panda is pretty raunchy…

OK, not the best meal ever but it wasn’t totally terrible. We got to our hotel and it was a little more lack lustre than I’d expected. They did have a mini fridge in each room but no kettle – so much for my first aid kit and cup of tea I was desperate for.

JC had got the last sea view balcony available and better to have a garden balcony than a sea view window – what use is that?! You couldn’t even see the sea view from the bed from the photos. This will turn out to be a blessing in disguise, and while not amazing, the garden view wasn’t the worst I’ve eve seen. Anyway, time to go find a drink to settle in and let the driver relax, he’s such a hero to us all.

I was soon dismissed to go and find out what in the in-house restaurant had to offer, of course I don’t speak Spanish but used my best French to enquire about reservations and took photos of the menu for translation back at the table. They had no tables available on the balcony and it was pretty spendy for what it was so we decided to look to the bar instead.

We’ll find something more tomorrow. This evening however is the last night of the high season and we will be making the most of the live band playing.

After getting tired of the drinks downstairs we decided to take the party up to JC’s balcony where we could watch and hear the festivities without the bar bill. Matt and I took a ‘couple’ of bottles over and Cressida and I danced on the balcony till late. Time to head back to our room and leave all evidence at theirs.

[10 September 2022]

Sunday

Time to head down for breakfast – yeah me and breakfast, but we are with friends so some effort should be made. Best thing however was that we made plans to go to the Greek and Roman ruins next to the hotel. Winner, winner, chicken dinner – it’s one of the only sites that has both Greeks and Romans living together in the same location at the same time. Hell yes!

So after breakfast we’re off. It seems that the while the Greeks still inhabited the lower portion the Romans built their town just above it – typical Romans. Must have been an important trading post though for them both to be living together on the site like that. Not much evidence of why currently if I’m honest.

After a quick refresh it was time to have a bit of a search around for some lunch but unfortunately we came up a bit empty handed to decided to grab nibbles back at the hotel bar and do a bit more research on where we should have dinner.

After lunch it was the obligatory relaxation on the beach with a bit of swimming and snorkelling. I followed a sardine for ages till he lost me, and I’d lost Matt. Eventually I found him again, Matt not the sardine, and back on shore we looked up all the fish we’d seen.

JC thought it was all a bit fishy so headed back. We stayed a bit longer to play around. I love living in the mountains but I grew up being able to see the sea and it’s lovely to be close to water again.

Time to get ready for dinner. Lunch had been so good we went back to the same place. It really was good.

Back to the hotel and time for a dip in the sea. Matt and I did a bit of snorkelling and I chased an anchovy for quite some time, he looked very tasty after our recent break to San Sebastien!

Off to dinner… [ I have no idea now or pictures ]

On the way home there was the most amazing moon that we tried and failed to take pictures of that would capture what we saw. It was breath taking. But we’ll share the pictures anyway since this is a blog.

Time for another drink up on the balcony of joy and making the most of the moonlight before heading to bed.

[11 September 2022]

Monday

It’s leaving day already. Such a short break. Was good to road test our French village friends as holiday friends and I’m sure we’ll be doing this again. Packed up the room and then the car and it was time to head out for lunch before we set off.

It’s so lovely only being a few hours from home. No planes, no waiting rooms, just a few hours in the car and you’re on holiday. JC dropped off and it’s time to relax at home alone again. It’s been a great trip, despite the slightly disappointing hotel, but good to have a break before we get back into it all.

[12 September 2022]