First day-trip into Southern France November 22, 2009

The day after our visit to Parc Guell in Barcelona, we decided to drive into sunny Southern France and explore their Mediterranean coast a little bit. We left late morning from Granollers along the AP7 (Autopista with tolls) for about 145 kms. to the first exit before Perpignan on the coast. The Pyrenees were quite spectacular on our left as we drove into France, vineyards and orchards abound in the area. We headed towards the Sea and stopped for lunch in Banyuls-sur-Mer at Claude's Restaurant, the only one open along the beach-front "strip", as it was very much "off season".

We took Steph and Lou there for lunch again at the end of December and Claude, who remembered "les canadiens", took great delight in greeting us French-style (both cheeks) then introducing us to some other patrons as "des canadiens qui habitent en Espagne et qui mangent en France"! We will be back-fish, salad with goat's cheese and the local aperitif, Banyuls, were all delicious! Merci bien, Claude! A la prochaine!

View of Port-Vendres














Local wines from Cave Tombour-we woke the owner up from a nap in his caravan!














The sea front at Banyuls-sur-Mer






























A map rendition in tile on City Hall




















Patrons at Claude's enjoying lunch in the sun (as we did)















Leaving Banyuls-sur-Mer on the coastal road high above the Med are some incredible views of the Sea, surrounding orchards and hills, and below the village of Cerbere, just at the Spanish border.















Au revoir!