Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Summer Vacation 2009 (France)

Mr. Margie and I went to France for our Margie and Mr. Margie Saturday on my birthday. We filled two days looking at houses and barns all for sale and all with the potential to be our second home. We saw two we were really interested in. Mr. Margie would love to take on a project he can work on with some family and friends joining in too. We looked around Rodez.


The cathedral there is a hidden gem, as is the city itself. Mel and Chris joined us and we explored the cathedral thrilled to find items of handicraft and beautiful altars.



This Christmas scene was so pretty and the colours so vivid, I really enjoyed the relaxing and serene feeling inside the cathedral.


We promised some friends we would visit. On day three, we took a three hour car journey to Canet passing fields of golden sunflowers en route.


We stopped near Montpellier on the drive for an iced tea and look at who was taking shade in the
picnic area.
When we arrived to stay with Jacques and Sandrine, they had converted the recording studio into a bakery and this pretty lady provided us with our croissant and pain au chocolate each morning (by far the best bakery I have ever visited). We met Jacques and Sandrine a few years ago at Camping La Yole.

We spent five wonderful restful days with our friends. CK a la plage.


The sun and the sea were fantastic and a perfect opportunity to read, swim and look stunning in polka dots,


I do so love the olives served with the aperitif, and there were so many perfectly charming beach restaurants to choose from.


The sea was so blue, it mirrored the sky and what could be nicer than a cool glass of rose, by the waters edge in late afternoon, watching the boats go by.




We took a visit to Perpignan on Thursday evening (each Thursday musicians and performers take to the streets for the evening) and were thoroughly entertained, this tight rope walker had us gasping and delighted at his efforts.



Our visit also included an evening of excellent food at Domaine De La Rombeau, the restaurant where Mel and Chris had their wedding reception in May this year. Pierre Henri, the owner, was very pleased to have us visit.



Our trip had a high point in Alby, a wonderful brick city (said to be the largest old brick city in the world), and just look at the museum in the town..ooh la la....




we dined in a wonderful little courtyard restaurant in the cloitre, salads with local roquefort cheese.



A visit to the cathedral brought our trip to a fitting end, its beautiful filigree stonework near the entrance were so intriciate, true craftsmanship and the colours of the frescoes were incredible, the organ music, however, was very ominus.




The statue of St. Cecile, was so beautiful, many of the wall paintings looked like three dimensional patchwork.




Big hugs,

Margie

19 comments:

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What a beautiful holiday the two of you had! What a dream, to own a second home in France (especially one that you can work on and see the fruits of your own efforts)! To holiday in France in summertime looks like a romantic event!

Anonymous said...

Lovely photos. Happy birthday!...Pam

Vicki Lane said...

Thank you so much for the wonderful photos! It looks like a fine place to live.

Les Cotrions said...

Waw Margie! Faboulous places you visited! You seem to have had a great holiday in France! Thanks for sharing this nice photos and for this tour!
Happy new day!
Hugs
Vale

Veronica Tingvall said...

Oh It all looks so beautiful and nice. It must have been a wonderful holiday.
lots of love /Veronica

Anonymous said...

Hallo Margie,

Thank you very very fore nice comments on my blog. I told you before that I like like your blog & your great pictures!

Agneta, the swedish you know...

Thedarkerside73 said...

Hi Margie,

Wow what stunning pictures, and how fab a way to spend your time. I hope you find a lovely house to work on. That must be really exciting. I wish you the best of luck in realising your dreams.

Thanks for sharing a bit of France (and sun) with us.

MBBx

LuLu Kellogg said...

Oh my goodness Margie! What a lovely vacation! I have never been overseas but one day I would love to go. The Commander and I would love to go to France, Ireland and Italy. Perhaps one day!

I LOVE the picture of the furry one under the table!!! That was priceless!

Love,
LuLu~*xoxo

Deborah said...

What a glorious holiday. The photos are great. Love the dotted swimsuit! I'm still around, just busy! Ben is coming home and bringing home a friend. Time to make the cookies!

Splashes of Pink and Mint said...

It sounds you had a great vacation! Owww... and so exciting, a second home in France! I hope you'll find the house of your dreams!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pics, so we can enjoy them too. Oh... and your polka dotted bathingsuit is just divine!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for you to get your second home in France so we all can come for a visit! :) Your photos are fabulous Margie. It looks like you all had a birthday trip to dream about it. I love that polka dotted suit with the big black hat. Very elegant!

Sugar Bear said...

So beautiful Margie! I can see why you would want a second home there.
Karla

Anonymous said...

Oh les belles vacances !!!
Maintenant je veux absolument visiter la Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi !!! So beautiful !!! I love your polka dotted swimsuit and your hat, it is so elegant ! Happy Birthday Margie !!! xo

Unknown said...

Margie,

What an amazing holiday. Your photographs really tell the story about what an amazing place you were blessed to visit. Happy Birthday, I think you had a beautiful one!

Karen

Anonymous said...

Oh Margie what a beautiful and enchanting holiday you had and ♫Happy Birthday♫! I loved reading and seeing all the places you visited each more magical than the one before!
Welcome back!♥

Eliane Zimmermann said...

love the white beach and the polka dots, you had much more sun than we had here in West Cork!!!! and I know Albi (near Toulouse? ) and I loved it!!!! thanks for sharing! and happy "new year" [of your life] (with a new holiday home perhaps)

vicki archer said...

A gorgeous holiday Margie and how exciting your project sounds. The beach looks wonderful - the sea so blue and it can't be too far away from me...I would love to visit these towns you have spoken of. Happy belated birthday too....xv

Rommeij said...

Ooo it looks so nice! I loved the polka dots, the sunflowers and the scenery. Such a relaxing time I hope :)

The Gossamer Tearoom said...

Margie,
What incredible photos of your trip to France! My husband and I were just in awe! The next time we go, we will want to go back to Paris, but also include some time in the country. We loved the courtyard picture so much!! And the sheep under the table was so cute!!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and for the kind comment you made!

Wishing you a great day!

Betty