Dining |

Posts Tagged ‘dining’

A LINE DANCING CLASS UNDER THE STARS

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Gillie and I, along with a small group of friends, thought we would have a shot at Line Dancing, so on Thursday evening we headed off to a beach side bar/restaurant on the outskirts of Collioure where we given an introductory lesson.

An interesting location

By the time we got around to the second session after dinner and a glass or two of wine, the cowboy hats had been discarded.

You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out.......

It was a good and interesting evening just finishing in time as a summer thunder storm arrived; this pleased Gillie as it saved her watering the garden.

Now where are we going to get our cowboy boots from?

Jim

Tags: dining, entertainment, Mediterranean, Places of Interest, weather, wine
Posted in Photos | No Comments »

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Guests enjoying breakfast on the main terrace have a wonderful view of the Alberes Mountains, where the Pyrenees join the Mediterranean.

Les Alberes

It is a rare sight to see snow covering as much of the Mountain as it did this year. Most winters there will be a covering near the summit but it soon seems to disappear and return to its normal rich shade of green.

Sun set over Les Alberes

As midday approached today the temperature at La Chataigneraie was in the high thirties, so Gillie and decided to drive to the Col de U’llat in the Alberes for a walk and lunch. The Col is situated within a few steps of the Spanish border and the views in all four directions are wonderful.

Cork Oak Trees en route to the Mountain peak

Cork Oaks en route to the Mountain peak

The views on the drive get steadily more dramatic and more beautiful.

Sound your horn!!

A cool and beautiful place to wander

The temperature at the Col must have been between 10 and 15 degrees cooler than at home; it was refreshing in the mountain air as is to be expected at 1000 metres high.

We enjoyed a light lunch at a favourite Auberge, which has an outside deck facing West and overlooking the peaks of the Pyrenees; a heavenly location.

A recommended place for lunch

Then it was back home to welcome guests.

Jim

Tags: dining, Driving, Mediterranean, spain, sun, weather
Posted in Photos | No Comments »

GUESTS COMMENTS

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

As we are now at the beginning of our busy season we have all been kept fairly well occupied. We continue to enjoy the company of all our guests, even sitting along side a wonderful couple from Bremen in Germany when England were trounced 4 – 1.

Stefan and Monica from Bremen who had something to smile about!

They commented in our visitors book that they were delighted when we allowed them to stay and we didn’t force them to move on!!!

The following couple’s comments are worth recording on the Blog and relate in part to a swimming lesson I gave them.

” Dear Jim, Gilly and Kim, we can now float on the water! Life is full of goals (A pity 4 of them were German…..!)”

Au revoir et a bientot……………..Bill and Maddy”

Maddy, Bill and Gillie. Maddy can now keep her eyes open under water!!!!

Margaret, Brett and Belinda just leaving after their third visit

When we eventually retire, our guest books are going to make wonderful bedtime reading, as they will bring back many happy memories of all of the friends we have made from all corners of the World.

Marguerite and Andy (plus an addition due in November)

They all enjoyed the experience of visiting and revisiting this wonderful region with its sunshine, great food and wines and superb art galleries.

Jim

Tags: Ceret, dining, entertainment, Guests, Places of Interest, sun, weather, wine
Posted in Art Galleries, Photos, Recent Guests, weather conditions | No Comments »

A DAY OUT IN JANUARY

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

We have been kept very busy, not only with guests, but with maintenance since early December, so Gillie and I decided we should have a day off and this we did today, 29th January 2010.

: The early morning bread run to Ceret

As the weather was so beautiful we left Ceret early in the morning and headed to the Costa Brava. After one and a half hours driving we arrived at Sant Feliu de Guixols, a lively town not far from Girona.

: Sant Feliu de Guixols

: SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A TAN IN SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS

We strolled around in the winter sun shine before having an enjoyable lunch of grilled squid, whilst at the same time soaking up the rays of the sun.

: Gillie on the cliff tops just North of Tossa de Mar

After a very pleasant break we decided to head further South to the attractive town of Tossa de Mar. During the drive we saw a Merlin and a Falcon and we were quite close to them, as well as two or three large birds of prey which were too far away to identify. I also saw a couple of rough looking birds in La Jonquera, but Gillie wouldn’t let me investigate further!!!!

: THE COAST JUST NORTH OF TOSSA

Those of you old enough may remember a film entitled “The Flying Duchman” staring Eva Gardner and James Mason, well the film was centred around Tossa.

Tossa de Mar

: Tossa de Mar

The beach at Tossa is beautiful and as you can see the colour of the sea is quite magnificent. After freshly squeezed orange juice and a coffee, we slowly made our way home through some wonderful countryside. We also took the opportunity to restock our wine and olive store.

We always enjoy our days out, but there is something magical about being welcomed home by Mt Canigou.

: Mt Canigou

We are looking forward to our next day off, which we hope won’t be to far away.

Jim

Tags: birds, Ceret, dining, Driving, Guests, history, Mediterranean, Places of Interest, spain, sun, weather, wine
Posted in Photos | No Comments »

CHRISTMAS AT LA CHATAIGNERAIE

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

This year we will be spending Christmas here in the South of France and opening our doors to guests over the festive season.

We would love to welcome you back, and perhaps other members of your family or friends to La Chataigneraie to experience Christmas in Catalunya. (at our normal winter rates.)

Local restaurants will be open for Christmas Day lunch but not the evening, however we can arrange Christmas dinner at La Chataigneraie by special request.

A cosy xmas fire

The house is centrally heated and a roaring log fire will be in the lounge for you to sip your wine by.

The first winter snow has fallen on Mt Canigou and by December 25th the mountain will be gleaming white against the blue sky, so much more breathtaking than in the summer months when the mountain is green.

Mt Canigou

Winter is the time to enjoy walking or climbing in the magnificent foot hills of the Pyrenees where the air is clearer and the views sharper and your energy will not be drained by summer heat.

Snow caped peaks

Other activities for all the family can include horseback riding or a wagon ride through beautiful country lanes of Vallespir under the gaze of Mt Canigou and around the lake at St Jean pla de Corts pulled by two Percheron horses. A truly memorable experience! After your ride you could take ten minute car journey to the coast to sit at the beach side cafes for coffee or lunch and relax in the winter sunshine.

Wonderful Winter Weather at Collioure

Time for that coffee I talked about

The nearby cities of Perpignan, Carcassonne, Montpellier in France and Figueres, Girona and Barcelona in Spain, are within striking distance to explore without the madding crowds of summer. Christmas lights will be adorning all the buildings and the smell of coffee and delicious patisseries will entice you in to the many cafes.

The Ventous

There is plenty to see and do in the region during the holiday period:

4th to 7th December A wonderful Medieval Christmas Fare of quality goods in the beautiful setting of Castle Royale, built on the rocks above the sea at Collioure. Fabulous atmosphere with penned livestock on the straw covered courtyard and mulled wine served in the outside bar/cafe, a choir in medieval dress strolls around the castle adding to the general festive spirit.

9th and 13th December Argeles Christmas Market

12th December La Boulou Christmas market

12th and 13th December Castlenou Traditional Christmas market with local produce

18th to 21st December Port Vendres Christmas market

19th December Christmas market in Ceret

19th to 24th December Father Christmas Parade through the streets of Ceret.

20th December Christmas Food Fare in Ceret.

20th December Christmas Carol concert in St Peter’s Church in Ceret.

There are many activities being added to the Christmas programme each day, so keep an eye on the “What’s On in Languedoc Roussillon” Web Site.

We hope to see you.

Best Wishes

Gill, Jim and family

Tags: art, Ceret, Churches and Castles, dining, entertainment, Guests, horses, Mediterranean, Places of Interest, spain, sun, weather, wine
Posted in Photos, Uncategorized | No Comments »

AN INDIAN SUMMER

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Gillie arranged a lovely birthday party for me on Saturday evening, where I enjoyed the company of about twenty friends. I did, however, suffered a little the following morning.

My Birthday Cake

So as not to contribute too much to Global Warming, Gillie restricted the number of candles to six!

We really are enjoying spectacular weather at the moment; here we are on 6th October and it is 33 degrees in the shade. Needless to say, the swimming pool is very popular with us as well as our guests.

Young and not so young enjoying a cooling dip

We are delighted to continue to welcome guests, mainly from the North of Europe where the Summer weather has not been so good. When in Ceret at 7.30am today picking up the bread and croissants it was 20 degrees. The local restaurants are still serving dinner outside, it really is amazing and extending our season.

Why not consider taking advantage of a cheap flight and come and join us for a few days.

Best Wishes

Jim

Tags: Ceret, dining, Guests, sun, weather
Posted in Photos, weather conditions | No Comments »

OUT AND ABOUT

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

We have had a very good year here at La Chataigneraie, but we are now starting to slow down . October is a wonderful time of the year, the day time temperatures are often perfect, as I write it is 27 degrees and I have just had a swim. The trees are slowly taking on the autumnal colours and there is very little traffic on the roads, making it a real pleasure to explore the region.

Yesterday, a friend and I drove to Rennes le Chateau, a beautiful little village in the Corbieres, perched on a hill top with majestic views all around. The village featured in Dan Brown’s, “The Da Vinci Code” and so has many visitors. The drive there, via the clifftop castle of Queribus and the Gorges de Galamus, is spectacular. We spotted at least 10 eagles during the trip, which took us through the wine regions of Maury and Caramany.

: The Gorges de Galamus

Building this road must have been an enormous engineering challenge and one really wonders why is was ever built as it does not link any communities , however, I am pleased it was built as it is a breath taking drive.

The Church in Rennes le Chateau

Rennes le Chateau

We had lunch in Rennes le Chateau before heading homewards. We made our way through another gorge, this time the “Gorges de St Georges” and whilst the engineering and road building skills involved were the equal of the “Gorges de Galamus”, the drop from the road side to the bottom of the gorge was not as dramatic. There was a far greater likelihood of a rock fall; we stopped to take the photographs you see below and the chap on the bicycle warned us not to stop as it was dangerous, we closed the car doors very carefully and crept out.

Gorges de St Georges

We then headed up into the foothills of Mt Canigou crossing the Col de Jau at just over 1500m. The temperature dropped from 25 to 16 degrees and with a chilly wind it felt more like 8 degrees.

Col de Jau

We were soon back in Vallespir to a welcoming 25 degrees.

A most enjoyable day out.

We have been reliably informed that Ryan Air are buying 300 new aircraft opening up Europe even more; do, therefore, keep an eye on their Web Site, and “New Destinations” as there are some fantastic fares on offer. For the Scots amongst you, your prayers have been answered as there are flights now scheduled from Edinburgh to Girona and Carcassonne.

We would love to see you

Jim

Tags: birds, Churches and Castles, dining, Driving, Flights, history, Places of Interest, weather, wine
Posted in Latest Travel Tips | No Comments »

WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOONS

Monday, September 7th, 2009

During the last year or two we found an increasing number of couples and their families and friends have stayed with us before a wedding. No doubt attracted by the wonderful weather and scenery.

MT CANIGOU FROM LA CHATAIGNERAIE

A GIFT FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

A GARDEN TERRACE

WATCHING THE SUN GO DOWN

Being in such a peaceful location has proved to be extremely popular with Newly Weds, who enjoy the tranquility of the house and the views from their own private terrace.

Until later

Jim

Tags: Ceret, Churches and Castles, dining, entertainment, Guests, Places of Interest, sun, Weddings and Honeymoons
Posted in Photos | No Comments »

Castelnou

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

I do believe the beautiful small town of Castelnou has been mentioned in earlier Blogs. It is such a charming place that it warrants a further mention along with some photographs.

A typical road in Castelnou

Gillie took these photographs to give guests an idea of just how beautiful and quaint the town is.

Exploring the colourful streets

Lunch with a view at l'Hostal

A Tempting Table

The area of Castelnou produces its own wines, ranging from a sweet white of about 16% through to a light Rose of 11%. The local honey is equally popular.

Hands Off, they are mine!!

Gillie fancied a salad

Another hard day!

No Cars is this town!

Various Artisans can be found in the little cobbled streets of the mediaeval town. One small shop that we never pass by is a Wood Turners.

Eric Salles has been producing wonderful pieces from local timber for quite some time now. Some of the wood he uses retains its smell for years and years, Juniper is one example.

Wonderful Views

What a location!

Well, what do you think?

Gillie and I are rarely able to visit our favourite places in the Summer months, so it was a much more colourful and vibrant Castelnou than the one we normally see in December and January and it is only about 45 minutes from La Chataigneraie. It features high on our list of recommended places to visit.

Jim

Tags: art, Churches and Castles, dining, Driving, Gardens, history, Places of Interest, sun, weather, wine
Posted in Photos | No Comments »

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED

Monday, June 29th, 2009

The weather here has been, as one would expect, warm and sunny most days. The sound of the first cicardas means that Summer has really arrived and they are at full volume today as the temperature at lunch time reached into the 30’s. As you can imagine, the swimming pool is a popular location for most of our charming guests.

Our little town of Ceret is looking good with a number of changes having taken place in the last few months:

Waterway by the main car park

The New Library

Waterway separating the two car parks

The most noticeable improvement, I guess, is the water now running between the two sections of the main car park. Those of you who have visited us before, will probably remember this a dried-up river bed. It is now an attractive and colourful addition to the centre of the town, which along with the newly planted Plane trees softens the whole area. Also in the vicinity of the car park is the new library, with fountains outside. I think most of you will find this a charming little story. When the old library closed and all of its contents had to be moved to the new building, instead of hiring removers, school children formed a quarter of a mile chain from the old to the new library and the books were passed from hand to hand until the new shelves were filled. What a great way to make the children feel involved and part of the towns continuing development.

Ceret is a lively town throughout the year, but with the arrival of Summer the town comes into its own; with full restaurants, musicians and singers performing in the streets and cafes adding to the already carefree ambiance of Ceret.

Couples no longer able to sit still get up to dance

le Place de Neuf Jets

A small number of restaurants have changed hands in the last few months and we are receiving good reports about them all; should I reserve a table for you?

Three or four new boutiques have also sprung up in some of the old back streets of the town.

Jim

Tags: Ceret, dining, entertainment, Guests, sun, weather
Posted in Photos | No Comments »