Languedoc

Last week we travelled down south with Susan’s parents for a couple of days.



Let’s just say this upfront: we love the south of France.
 (note: yes I know “South of France” sounds about as weird in English as “the west of Canada” - but that’s just what it is).   The area is Languedoc  (taken from “langue d’oc” or “language of Oc” - or “language of occitan” - a local Romance language of from centuries back) - and it is fabulous.

The weather is (normally) fantastic, there are vineyards, olive groves, fig trees, lavender, poppies and palm trees, fresh seafood from the Mediterranean just down the road and amazing open-air markets where you can buy all of the above out in the southern air.  Pretty much everything a guy born in northern Saskatchewan (sorry, ‘the north of Saskatchewan) needs to feel at home.

We went down and stayed in my Aunt and Uncle’s amazing house.  Uncle Milton said that it was probably built around the start of the war.


Of course, he’s referring to the Hundred Years War - which got going around 1330 or so.







We didn’t have the greatest weather - especially for down there - but that didn’t really slow us down. Not when you travel with me (George Watts Travel: connections and three daily meals not guaranteed - but you will see a lot™)

            

All these pictures are from an Abbey that has been transformed into a vineyard - hence the 500hl barrels in the middle of the church.  We toured through the rest of the abbey grounds, visited the cat, tasted the wine  - and then headed off towards the sea.