Capestang

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Capestang in the south of France where we rented an apartment to call home for 3 weeks. We had visited Capestang when we were on the houseboat and really liked the size of the town -- small enough to feel immediately comfortable and yet big enough to have a choice of restaurants and shops. Found a place on the internet and were able to arrange to move right in. It's on a small bus ride from Beziers rather than a train line and, of course, there are no buses on Sunday which was the day we had been hoping to arrive. Our "hosts" immediately volunteered to come pick us up in Beziers (which is acutally only about 15 minutes away by car) so we were gratiously met at the station. There are many people originally from England who own properties here in town. We met a woman yesterday who was pointing out where all the houses in this immediate neighbourhood are that are owned by English. One evening, we went into the local bar/restaurant and the placed was filled with people speaking English. Found out later that it was choir rehearsal night and many of the choir members are English (more later).

Since we've been here, we've explored the town and the Languedoc region. We've walked, rode the bus, rented a car...all in all, it's been a lovely break from moving the backpacks around every day (and continually looking for a hotel and planning and arranging travel to the next location). We had Peter's sister, Beth, and her friend, Helene, here for a week. Was a lovely visit. We've been to the Mediteranean (St. Laurent Sur Mer, Narbonne Sur Plage, Sts. Maries les Mers -- one of the places where Van Gogh painted), went to the Petite Camargue, took in a free Joan Baez concert in Montpelliers, have hiked the Gorges d'Heric in the mountains to the north, went to Lagrasse, an old walled town to the southwest of us, toured an old Abbaye (the Abbaye Fontfroide which was huge in its day -- both size and power). At one point, the Cistercean monks who ran it were among one of the most powerful forces in Europe. One of the abbots was head of the inquisition looking into the heretic Cathars and he later became pope. We're really in the midst of all the stories of the Cathars here, quite a sad story.

Yesterday, we climbed the belltower of the church that towers above the town. From anywhere in the countryside, you can see it as a landmark. It's amazing how the weather and scenery has changed since we first arrived as well. We've been very fortunate to have mostly warm, sunny days with some cooler evenings (it's been so nice here this past week that the locals are calling it "ete indien" -- Indian summer). We had a few days of cooler weather and rain, including a couple good thunder and lightning storms. Mostly, we've been impressed with watching the changing colours of the leaves -- partly on the various trees but mostly in the fields upon fields of different varieties of grapes. There are often grape vines as far as the eye can see.

Tonight, we're off to hear the "Chorale International de Capesatng", an adult choir here in town that are doing a fall performance. Will be interesting to see and hear. Who knows, maybe there will be a choir exchange in the future ....

More later.

Anne & Peter

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Photos

Road to Puisserguier
An interesting way to divide the highway-not a forgiving median

Street in Puisserguier
This street was part of the Camino de Santiago that went through the town.

Collegial Church in Capestang
Built as the Summer Church for the Bishops of Narbonne. Never actually finished but pretty large just the same.

Cheese Festival in Beziers
This Cheese tasting had cheeses from all over France. All free-wine included

Trees and Clouds
This was between Poilhes and Capestang. Just interesting colour and contrast.

Canal Boat
A Canal boat through the Canal bridge in Capestang

Pierre-Paul Riquet
The designer and builder of the Canal du Midi. His statue is in the main drag in Bezier.

Mediterranean
The beach at St. Pierre-sur-Mer.

Black Bulls
On the Petite Camargue they breed these bulls specifically for bull fighting.

White Camargue Ponies
They also breed white ponies to use as part of the bull fighting. They herd the bulls with the ponies. The ponies have a better survival rate...

Comments

[Sherry Walsh]

Excellent Photos
Whoever is taking the photos has a great eye and a knack for composition. My only tip would be to use the flash or adjust the white balance on your camera when shooting indoors. The photos of your meals at the restaurant at the Monastery of Fontfroide are yellow because the white balance did not match the available light. But with all that superb food and wine, who cares!