A while ago I was sitting on a train with Geoff (my other half) traveling to Beziers on the TGV. Him enjoying the fact that we were on such a fantastic train and me looking forward to going back to Beziers, my favorite holiday destination in the south of France in the area called Herault.
You know that voice when the kids want something and they say mom in that funny drawn out way, well I thought it might work for me. So thought does not come before action.
“Goff?”
“What are you after?” he said.
“Can we look at houses while we’re in Beziers? I think it would be a fantastic place to retire.” The response, while enthusiastic, was obviously fraught with financial misgivings.
Arriving at our station, the sun and the heat welcomed us and gave us a push in the right direction. Although we kept our eyes and ears open, we did not let our intentions of looking for a property get in the way of our enjoyment of this place.
Early on Sunday morning we visited Les Halles (the indoor market) located in the heart of the city of Beziers. Oh, how decadent it felt to be sitting in the little bar eating oysters and drinking wine before lunch. No, we are not really “well off” as you will see when I tell you 12 oysters and 2 glasses of wine and change for 15 euros.
A short walk from Les Halles after passing the Mairie (town hall) resplendent with its flower arrangements, we arrive at Allees Paul Riquet (named after the man who designed and built the Canal du Midi). The people sitting outside the outdoor cafes, the welcoming smiles and greetings from waiters who remembered us. The reasons to stay kept multiplying.
There were so many things we wanted to see, but did we want to buy? Was Languedoc-Roussillon the region we wanted to make our home? We decided to continue with the vacation and let fate take care of the rest.
We visit the locks of the Canal du Midi. What a fantastic piece of engineering by Pierre-Paul Riquet. A wonderful place to be quiet and at peace with the world.
St Nazaire’s Cathedral is a huge imposing building with its ‘tragic history’. You can almost feel the spirits in the place. More on that in another article.
Yes, we had plenty to see and do during the day, although sometimes it was a bit difficult to get going in the morning. “Why?” You can ask. Well, there are a variety of shows that are constantly changing throughout the year (every year). Some just for one day, several that last the weekend, there is even one that lasts 5 days. Oh my poor head. Fair now that is definitely a story for another day.
I have a feeling I might wear out my index fingers before I can tell it all. Do we buy or do we not buy? Now hereby link another story. I hope I have whetted your appetite and you will come back to see what happened next.
