Chariot rides through the peach orchards

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:29:43 +0000

Click on the link below

chariot ride through the peach orchards

ANY ENTOMOLOGISTS OUT THERE?

jim — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:32:55 +0000

Moths and butterflies in the garden, along with the usual bees and beatles.

BOTTOMS UP!

That is all for the moment.

A few more:

Not sure what this is?

Sun bathing

CHERRY FESTIVAL – 2011

jim — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:24:35 +0000

This years festival has, once again, proved to be a great success. I shall let the photographs speak for themselves.

CERET TOWN CENTRE

YUM, YUM

I'LL HAVE THEM ALL!

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR UNWANTED FRIDGE MAGNETS

TREES AS WELL!

QUITE A CROWD

NEED I SAY ANYTHING?

An enjoyable weekend in the sun.

SPA TOWNS

jim — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:22:26 +0000

You may be interested in an item featured on the BBC News. We are ten minutes away by car from the spars.

Cut and paste the following BBC link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9459148.stm

THE GARDEN IS LOOKING COLOURFUL

jim — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:06:26 +0000

Colourful corners of the garden

Saint Peter's, Ceret

THE CHERRIES ARE READY

jim — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:16:32 +0000

It is that time of year again, when many of the trees in and around Ceret are starting to droop under the weight of their cherries. We even have a good crop on our single tree this year.

The traditional “Cherry Festival” will be held in Ceret during the weekend of 28th and 29th May 2011.

One of a number of bands around the town

It is a great excuse to sit and relax in the sun at one of the pavement cafes, to people watch and to enjoy the fun.

A great atmosphere

Do come and join us

WHAT WEATHER

jim — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:43:10 +0000

We are basking in summer weather and it is only early April. This is the third day in a row where temperatures have been over 30 degrees. It is amazing to see guests swimming before breakfast; as this doesn’t usually happen until late May. The pool water is only heated by the sun and is now more than 20 degrees, wonderful.

Bird and Wildlife sanctuary near Empuria Brava just across the border in Spain.

A STORK AT REST

DOMESTIC WORK

A PLACE TO KEEP COOL

DEER ON THE MOVE

NOT SO RARE IN THE UK BUT, WE DON'T SEE MANY HERE

THE BAY OF ROSAS

A CURIOUS STORK

The area is a Bird Watchers paradise but it would appeal to all lovers of nature; as there are wild boar, otters, deer and other animals of interest for the visitor to see. The streams within the park are also alive with fish and colourful reptiles.

A little bit of history

jim — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:26:30 +0000

As many of you will be aware, this region has experienced a great amount of turmoil throughout the ages. Recent history has the Pyrenees playing a major roll as an escape route for those fleeing North during the Spanish Civil War and those escaping Nazi occupied Europe who headed South during WWII. A new story came to my attention last week about man now called “The American Schindler”; his name was Varian Fry. His story is well worth reading as it is estimated that he helped between 2000 and 4000 Jewish refugees escape the Holocaust through this region of the Pyrenees.

A mountain track in the Pyrenees

Among those he rescued were; Marc Chagall, Leonard Frank, Bruno Strauss and Guiseppe Garetto. A more comprehensive list of the famous can be found on Wikipeadia. Many may well have passed right through what is now La Chataigneraie garden, as we are on “The Route of the Escapees”

There is now a street in Berlin and one is his home town of Ridgewood New Jersey named after him.

IT’S CARNIVAL TIME AGAIN

jim — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:56:07 +0000

Every year in February and March Carnivals take place throughout the Pyrenees Orientales. These lively festivities include music and singing, fireworks, fancy dress parades and not forgetting, as this is France, lots of eating and drinking!

There will be major celebrations in Vernet-les-bains this year. One hundred years ago, Rudyard Kipling and his wife arrived in the town. There will be exhibitions and talks about their stay.

Canigou and Kipling

“I came here in search of nothing more than a little sunshine. But, I found Canigou, whom I discovered to be a magician among mountains, and I submitted myself to his power…I watch him in wonder and delight. Nothing that he could do or give birth to would now surprise me, whether I met Don Quixote himself riding in from the Spanish side, or all the chivalry of ancient France watering their horses at his streams, or saw (which each twilight seems quite possible) gnomes and kobbolds swarming out of the mines and tunnels of his flanks”

Canigou

All of the local towns and villages enjoy Carnival times.

A Happy Face at Ceret Carnival

Moving onwards:

April

5th Jazz – Palais des Congres in Perpignan

16th, 17th – Flower show at Chateau Valmy

16th – Blessing and distribution of Catalan Chocolate at Perpignan cathedral

17th – Olive Oil festival in Sorede

18th – Melodies of Kipling at Vernet-les-bains – Kiplings poems put to music.

21st – Beatles tribute band in Peyrestortes

24th – Fete Americaine in Argeles – Western music and dancing, American cars and motorbikes, a red Indian village, stagecoach rides and a mechanical bucking bronco.

23rd – Festival of St Jordi and UNESCO International Day of the Book as it is the anniversay of the deaths of two great writers, Shakespeare and Cervantes.

23rd, 24th – Fete des Geants and Goigs in Villefranche de Conflent.

23rd, 24th – The Mondial du Vent in Leucate. Funboard, Kitesurf, sail-carting and kite flying.

24th – Easter Egg train from Riveslat to Axat. Egg hunt and forest picnic.

Ceret Carnival

May

1st – Fete du thym et de Forca Real in Corneilla la Riviere – street entertainment.

4th to 22nd – Girona flower festival. The whole of Girona covers itself in flowers, with free admission to parks and gardens.

7th May – 4th June The Spring Festival of the Aspres. Jazz concerts will take place in local wine domains and small village churches.

8th – Canet will host a military parade of vehicles, tanks of the 1940′s US Army, with an army camp and a live big band playing Glen Miller classics.

8th – Carnival procession in Saint Cyprien port.

14th – La Nuit des Musees - A free evening at local museums

14th – Concert “Che Tango” in Prades.

15th – Canet – Music from “Rock Country” and motorbike brocante.

28th, 29th – Cherry Festival in Ceret. A wonderful and colourful weekend with street music, dancing and entertainment.

29th – Three tenors from the opera Bastille at Chapelle du mas Riquer, Catllar.

29th – Mother’s Day in France.

SWIMMING ON 26TH JANUARY?

jim — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:14:40 +0000

A beautiful residence in Calella Spain

Swimming in January

Calella

Quiet and beautiful - Where we had lunch in the sun

We say it time after time, “If only some of our summer visitors saw the area at this time of the year”. It is so quiet on the roads and a delight to enjoy so many picturesque locations in tranquility, to sit outside and enjoy a leisurely lunch with a glass of wine and watch the waves gently rolling onto the beach.

We will do it again soon.