On our first morning in Arles, we met on the front terrace of our hotel Le Cloître to set off on today’s adventure. This would become a favourite gathering spot, morning and evening, under the magnificent giant Paulownia tree.
After a one-hour drive southwest from Arles, we arrived in the Mediterranean port and seaside resort of Sète.
Nancy McGee, owner of Absolutely Southern France, (who brilliantly organized the logistics of our tour), joined us IN PERSON ~ woohoo! Sète is her home, so who better to show us around?
With a stop at Nancy’s favourite fromager …
And on to a few other specialty shops to taste local goodies … zézettes are my favourites and check out the packaging!
Next we reached the amazing market … no question Sète is a seafood lovers’ delight … where Nancy had a sampling buffet organized …
Nancy’s buffet surprise … miam, miam (French for yum, yum …)
Next stop, lunch at the beach …
Last stop … an education in oyster farming … oh yes, and tasting … do you or don’t you?
Later that evening, back in Arles, a relaxing delicious dinner in a family-run bistrot that opened just for our group … lovely evening … with a moonlight stroll past the 2000-year-old arena, around the corner from our hotel. In Arles, thousands of years of history live all around you … c’est magique!
Le sigh …
Be sure to click on over to the website of my good friend and tour co-leader, Deborah Bine aka Barefoot Blogger. She has posted wonderful articles about many of the places we visit and this one in particular is a great post about Sète.
About Patricia Sands
Oh Patricia… thank you so much for doing all this… now I remember what village I was in. My brain has them so mixed up!! It’s a lot of work you’ve been doing and I got one are forever grateful!
Omg Stop!!!!
Haha! You need to come with us. 🙂
You are most welcome, dear Liane. I’m sorry it’s taking me a while to get all the posts up. Sneaking them in between writing … and all the photos have to be resized. But it’s joyful work. Such wonderful memories! <3
Goodness – all the food!! Yummers. One of these days I’m going to go with you on this trip.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
There was a bit of an overload that day! But … hey … it’s France! I know you are and I’m waiting for you. Also haven’t forgotten about sending you Q&A to feature here. Soon …
Big smiley face!
Patricia
Hi Patricia, thanks for posting the photos of the wonderful family restaurant in Arles. Would you mind if I copied your photos of this lovely place for my album? I don’t appear to have taken any of my own! Loving your photos. As Liz said it’s god how we all see things differently.
RRRRhonda ?
Of course! And I love how you are using “RRRRhonda”! We will never forget that, will you? LOL