Mercredi (Wed) 16/10/2013
I set my mobile phone to alarm for 0830,
and after I switched the damn thing off we slept until 0930. Which is pretty
late to get up and start exploring a new village, when shops all shut at 1230.
Anyway we are parked up in a big lot just off the Marina, Yacht City, Gruissan.
We had to be out by midi (12) or we’d pay an extra day. So we just drove out
and parked alongside the yachts. Several for sale, and later in the yacht
agency we reviewed the prices. I guess for some folk a yacht is better than a
small place by the sea, and you get to change the scenery when you like, just
as we can.
I wasn’t much in the mood for exploring, so
I sat in a café and had an espresso .......
while Carol climbed the hill to the ruin
overlooking the town and took some nice photos. It felt hot to me, like a very
hot summer’s day in England, but I guess it was 26 or 28’ rather than the 25’
predicted. The town of Gruissan had a nice lively village, mostly folk sitting
around having coffee or discussing the fruit and veg.
In the afternoon we drove the scenic route
along the coast back to St Pierre sur Mer, which I like a lot. The camping site
has tennis courts, a lovely beach 50m away, cheap electricity, and fresh water
when you want it. Town is 5 minutes away with wifi, and shops. But it does have a sort of summer season
feel, and not an all year round life. The nearest village with a thriving local
community is Fleury, the sweet village 5-7km inland, past a forest and nature
reserve.
We went to look at some houses in the afternoon with a local agent
(with worse English then my French). We looked at one very old village house
but only the outside, as the owner is sick in hospital, then a newish house,
about 10 years old, and then a 30 year old house, which we both liked.
On the
outskirts of the village, which means about 300m from the centre! 2 bedrooms
downstairs, one of which could be a study or a sewing room, and then 2 bedrooms
upstairs. All desperately in need of modernising, a deceased estate. A decent
garage, and space outside to park a camping car/ motorhome. Nice.
We plan to stay a couple more days around
here and look at one or two more houses, perhaps play a little tennis, and
maybe swim in the sea again, if the weather stays warm.
Thursday 17/10/2013
We take a stroll around St Pierre sur Mer
where we are still camping. The little commercial area opposite the beach has a
daily fruit and veg market and it is pleasant sitting having coffee and
watching people come and buy ther veg. The grocer, Monsieur Abani (his name is
on his van) flirts with all the women, who love it. All the middle aged men
have long tangled hair in pony tails, and the odd ear-ring. The women make more
of an effort to look good, but not much more! I thought he had sold out of the
lovely big Italian type green grapes we like, but he has just got some more out
of his van.
These are yachts at Gruissan
The bicycle baskets I had fixed to the back
of my motorbike have proved unsuitable and useless as they slip downwards on
their brackets. I tried an alternative fixing point yesterday but could not
make it secure. Today I decided to buy a couple of beach type canvas bags and
see if these can be slung under the pillion seat. There was a small tourist
shop offering 50% reductions on their summer stock and I bought two large
canvas beach bags, matching gaudy orange and yellow, for €8 the pair. Carol
says she can fix them with some Velcro straps under the pillion seat. Perhaps
the sewing machine will get used!
In the afternoon we lie on the beach, and
swim in the sea. There are lots of beach visitors today, and it is 28’ in the
van.
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