WET, WET, WET, more on Languedoc weather
I was never a 'Wet, wet, wet' fan, I can't even think what their 'greatest hits' were, indeed who was the lead singer? Marty Pellow?
We have had varying degrees of wet over the past 10 days. And we have had guests over the past 10 days. These things do not go together. But on the whole it wasn't really that bad/that wet, just some showers - it was the somewhat frequent dullness that dissapoints, everywhere looks better when 'the sun has got it's hat on'.
Friday night came to a head with thunder and lightening, the rain continued early morning as we set off to Carcassonne airport with our old friends, the first part of their journey back to sunny Belfast. All accounts seem to confirm it's been a stunning week 'back home'.
My gripe was, after setting down and scarpering at the airport, I had plans for a 'grand day out' up the Aude valley. Mercifully rain became showers and then just greyness.
First stop Limoux, don't know what I had expected, certainly somewhere more interesting - it really isn't. The cerise on the gateau was cigarette butts. France doesn't seem so bad these days with their historic dog pooh situation, this alternate type of filth I don't think I'd ever been aware of before. The central square is framed by a covered walk mostly occupied by café terraces, which busy on a sunny day probably have a lovely ambiance - just don't look down! I only did because a man came out to sweep the ground, something he obviously hadn't done in a week, around and under the tables was gross, people were sitting in a giant ashtray, the place was filthy. So Limoux, we won't be back (also noticed quite a few dishes in the traiteurs' windows didn't look in the first flush of youth.)
You can tell when I don't like somewhere - no photos.
You may also say its often the case places never seem good when the weather is dreary and you are in dissapointed mode.
BUT.
We then went on to Alet les Bains, weather now back to steady downpour mode, only us and 2 other soggy tourists in sight, the place was dead - nothing going for it under these conditions you may think - but we loved it. We have decided we must return to stay and walk in the area and explore further up the valley, because at this point, when I had run out of dry scarf to wipe my glasses with, we had decided to call it quits and curtail the not so 'grand day out' to half a day.
We have had varying degrees of wet over the past 10 days. And we have had guests over the past 10 days. These things do not go together. But on the whole it wasn't really that bad/that wet, just some showers - it was the somewhat frequent dullness that dissapoints, everywhere looks better when 'the sun has got it's hat on'.
Friday night came to a head with thunder and lightening, the rain continued early morning as we set off to Carcassonne airport with our old friends, the first part of their journey back to sunny Belfast. All accounts seem to confirm it's been a stunning week 'back home'.
Sunny Bushmills flying the flag.
My gripe was, after setting down and scarpering at the airport, I had plans for a 'grand day out' up the Aude valley. Mercifully rain became showers and then just greyness.
First stop Limoux, don't know what I had expected, certainly somewhere more interesting - it really isn't. The cerise on the gateau was cigarette butts. France doesn't seem so bad these days with their historic dog pooh situation, this alternate type of filth I don't think I'd ever been aware of before. The central square is framed by a covered walk mostly occupied by café terraces, which busy on a sunny day probably have a lovely ambiance - just don't look down! I only did because a man came out to sweep the ground, something he obviously hadn't done in a week, around and under the tables was gross, people were sitting in a giant ashtray, the place was filthy. So Limoux, we won't be back (also noticed quite a few dishes in the traiteurs' windows didn't look in the first flush of youth.)
You can tell when I don't like somewhere - no photos.
You may also say its often the case places never seem good when the weather is dreary and you are in dissapointed mode.
BUT.
We then went on to Alet les Bains, weather now back to steady downpour mode, only us and 2 other soggy tourists in sight, the place was dead - nothing going for it under these conditions you may think - but we loved it. We have decided we must return to stay and walk in the area and explore further up the valley, because at this point, when I had run out of dry scarf to wipe my glasses with, we had decided to call it quits and curtail the not so 'grand day out' to half a day.
A damp and quiet Alet les Bains - looking brighter thanks to photography jiggery pokery!
Recommendations for somewhere rather nice to overnight further up the Aude valley would be appreciated.
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