Back to Europe

Monday 3rd – Friday 7th November

Here we are again... actually in Spain now looking back over the last few days. Enjoyed staying with Barb and Pete and getting to know their grandchildren, Eve and Jake. It was nice for Brent to be plan ahead while I went for a walk in the sun with Barb and the children. Then on Tuesday Lorraine and Hughie entertained us with a lovely bonfire night meal and fireworks – the first time Eve ( aged 2) and Jake (1) had experienced these ..thank you for including us in this special event!
Got back to France safely with the help of Pete, who gave us a lift to the bus station at an unearthly hour and good old Ryan Air. Oh no – on arrival it was pouring with rain, had our good luck run out? Had a speedy look around Nimes and drove back to the gite, which felt like returning home...despite being much colder than when we left! Next morning (6th Nov) got up to a dry morning and after quick goodbyes headed off again. It had stopped raining before we left and lo and behold we even saw a bit of sun en route to Collioure, our destination. Brent had visited this fortified port many years ago and it was very beautiful. We found a reasonably priced hotel, had some lovely take away pizza and explored the town a bit. A TV crew were rehearsing a documentary to be filmed there the next day, so lots of areas were floodlit, which made it even more beautiful. Friday morning (7th) dawned with clear blue skies!!! We deserve this!!! We thoroughly enjoyed roaming the windy streets and visiting the artist's studios, which are abundant in Collioure. The first artist was very welcoming and filled us in on his background and life etc.
He was born in Casablanca and in his work uses memories of his childhood, when his father, a musician, held regular social gatherings in a lounge with different windows on each wall. In his work Cirillo includes a symbolic window. Interestingly 90% of his work is bought by doctors! He and his wife spend 1 month each year in Paris, where they stay in Yves Montand's apartment (which since he died has been left more or less untouched). All fascinating. We moved on after a lovely lunch to Figueres, where we are now in a nice hotel right near the Dali museum, which we are looking forward to visiting tomorrow.