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.
