Sète

Having sorted what to take on the bike and what to leave (the jackets we wore for the first two weeks and will need in September stay in Lyon, for example), we set off on a TER (regional) train for Sète. These trains are not TGVs (the fast trains) but go like the clappers when they can. They stop more often and for longer than a TGV and are very comfortable for people with bikes. 

We had a huge space to ourselves, bikes included. And access to five power points to charge our electronics, although we used only one, and that briefly.

It was great to see Armelle and co again and since there was a train strike we decided to stay an extra night. Their newly renovated apartment is spacious and light, close to the water with a view that just allows the blue of the sea to be seen. Sète has some photo exhibitions dotted around the town at present and we spent part of the day visiting some of these. One which doesn't seem like photos but was very interesting was comic-style [BD] documentaries, some of which involved immigrants' stories. We didn't see the whole exhibition, as we wanted to read all the extracts and it took a long time! 

It was market day in Armelle's street and we wandered along through a wide range of food, clothes, leather goods and more, stopping near the flower market for lunch under the shade of tall trees. 

The main cafe and kitchen were 3 steps up and over a wall and a street and the waiting staff were very skilled at negotiating the obstacle course with trayfuls of food, drink and empty dishes.

At the end of Armelle's day we drove out to one of the cafés on the long beach west of Sète. This is a marvellous spot to relax from a day's work and for Elie to have a bit of a splash in the sea. 

Most of the tables are set up on the sand though sheltered from the strong sun. A sea breeze cools. yes, I think this short excursion will be a lasting memory.


Merci à tous.