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Posts Tagged ‘wine’

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
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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
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APRIL, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MONTH

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

We are enjoying some wonderful April weather, with temperatures in the mid 20’s and the pool warm enough to swim in; I had my first dip today.

Poolside Wisteria

Golden Orioles, which usually arrive in May, must also be aware of the warm weather as they have been around and about in the garden for a week already.

Our Swimming Pool

The poolside beds await your arrival

Gillie and I had supper on the terrace at 7.30pm and watched the sun go down behind Canigou, it is just so peaceful and beautiful here.

Ceret road bridge with the old railway bridge in the background

Claud with his flock of goats down by the river

We are looking forward to greeting guests of old this year as a number have decided to return, some for the third, fourth and fifth time, It must be the food and wine!

Jim

Tags: birds, Ceret, Gardens, Guests, Places of Interest, sun, weather, wine
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ANIMALS OF THE PYRENEES

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

I should like to mention some of the animals to be found on a journey through the Pyrenees. Some are a lot more difficult to find than others.

No, not these. You would have had to have been here 2200 years ago to see Hannibal pass by.

The Pyrenean Elephant is extremely rare, so much so that a complete ban on its hunting has been imposed. Consequently, you will no longer come upon that rare sight of an elephant hunting party in our region, or indeed the rest of the Pyrenees anymore. These elusive creatures have been observed over the years by a number of our guests returning to La Chataigneraie in the early hours of the morning after a good night out in Ceret. The strange coincidence is that most thought they were a little pink in appearance.

What you can see are:

Pyrenean Chamois of which there are about 5000; they live in herds of about 100 high in the Mountains.

Alpine Marmot.

Pyrenean Desman

Pyrenean Brown Bear

Brown Bear

Red Squirrel

Wildboar

Pine Martin

Red Fox

Badger

Otter

Stoat

Weasel

Salamander

Natterjack Toad

Genet Cat. We have a family of genet cats living close by. These shy curious and playful creatures although catlike in appearance are not cats but are members of the family Viverridae, which also includes civets and mongooses.

The wildest of of the animals can be seen below

Two truly ferocious beasts "Muscat" and "Samba

Two matching and equally friendly four legged friends "Muscat" and "Samba

I am sure there will be many I have missed; can you think of any others?

Until later

Jim

Tags: Ceret, entertainment, Guests, history, Places of Interest, wine
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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
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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
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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
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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
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CERET DE TOROS

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

The busiest weekend for the town is drawing to a close; the Ceret de Toros is held over a weekend around 10th July each year. It is two or three days of partying highlighted by the running of the bulls through the town centre on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, followed by traditional bull fights in the town bull ring.

: The first bull through the town

: They are in there somwhere!

Here they come!

Keeping the bulls moving

The crowds are kept safely behind barriers, unlike many other bull runs.

Not yet fully grown, but still a lot of bull!

For some it's time to go home; bye bye Jordi.

Once the show is over the serious fun begins, with music and dancing in the streets and squares until dawn begins to break.

: 7pm and ready for a lively evening

: Some just love dressing up (or dressing down!)

: A colourful band member

: An even more colourful dancer.

: Yet another happy musician.

Young and old, all enjoy themselves.

Gillie and I joined the revelers an had an enjoyable evening dancing in the streets on Saturday night and the wonderful thing is, that even with the numbers of people eating and drinking and drinking and drinking in the streets, we have, over the years, never seen any trouble whatsoever, nor have we seen any policemen.

As I write this Blog, I can hear the sounds of music drifting up to La Chataigneraie from the town. Soon many of the 12,000 visitors will begin to drift away and once more Ceret will revert to its 10,000 inhabitants and planning will start for next years event. Over night the streets will be cleaned and Ceret will be ready for its next festival in a few days time, “Bastille Day”

Jim

Tags: Ceret, entertainment, Guests, horses, Places of Interest, Sport, wine
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WATERING HOLES

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Ceret has many inexpensive and friendly places to eat and drink.

Kathy and Freddy at the Vidal

The Vidal Dining Room

Kathy and Freddy are always ready to welcome guests from La Chataigneraie to either the roadside Tapis restaurant or to the slightly more formal first floor dining room of “Del Bisbe”, with its excellent chef. They run a friendly efficient service and Freddy has a great knowledge of local wines. They both speak excellent English.

Le Pied dans la Plat - La Place de Nuef Jetes

Le Pied dans le Plat - La Place des Neuf Jets

During evenings in the Summer months musicians can often be found entertaining diners in the “Place des Neuf Jets”. There are three restaurants there; “The Quattrocentro”,a Pizzaria. “The Fontaine” and “Le Pied dans le Plat”. Each one slightly different from the other but all well worth visiting.

Michel ready for lunch time guests

About two hundred metres from the centre of Ceret, down Rue St Ferreol is the Petit Grill

Lodo and Stephan at Le P'tit Grill

Stephan looks after your table whilst his wife, Lodo prepares the excellent homely meals. As the title suggests, it is a small intimate and friendly restaurant.

Cafe de France

Whilst neither Gillie nor I have eaten at the” Cafe de France”, we have had good reports from guests, so do consider a visit.

In addition to the “Cafe de France”, the two most popular road side cafes in Ceret are “Le Grand” and the “Pablo”.

Le Grand Cafe

The "Bar le Pablo"

These two are particularly popular on Saturday mornings, as they are great viewing points to “People Watch” during the hours of the busy, bustling market.

There are other cafes and restaurants in town and I will update the Blog with their details in the coming weeks.

Jim

Tags: Ceret, dining, entertainment, Guests, Places of Interest, sun, weather, wine
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