2021,  August  5th.

Beziers.

We have been very lazy in the heat, but finally we took our bikes up into Beziers to wander about before we left again. We found they had set up an amazing sculpture park in the main square, that apparently lights up at night ...so far we have been to lazy and hot to venture out so late!!

And rode back down through the park.

Built in 1893 represent Titan Atlas carrying the world. He rests on a giant seashell supported by seahorses lead by angels. The head of the god, Pan, spits a trickle of water in which 2 children play.

Headed back to the Etang to meet up with Alan and Shelia (who live in the area) for 3 birthday gathering at an  ''all you can eat -seafood buffet''  in Bouzigues, one of the centres for osyters on the E'tang.

For Max's birthday we caught the train to spend a couple of nights in Marseille.  We stayed right down in the Vieux-port, (old port),  which seemed to be centre of things.

We did the noddy train to both sides of the port.(Just a few pictures) 

Along the coast to the past Islands of Frioul and The Chateau d'lf, where the stories of The Count of Monti Cristo were set, and up to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, that watches over the sailors, fishermen and people of Marseilles. Such an amazing view over Marseilles. 

 

You can see the references to the ships and sailors by the model boats hanging from the ceiling and the pictures on the walls.

                             

    

This shows the hotch-potch higglty pigglty of the roofs of the old biuldings in old parts of town, with the huge new Orange Velodrome in the dstance..

Night view from Cafe in Vieux Port, showing the Basilique on the hill ,The Abbaye, the Fort Ganteaume at the harbour entrance. ( other side is Fort Saint-Jean)

View of Vieux Port from our balcony.

                Now of course we can't go anywhere without a small crisis. 

So the french are really into protests and of course the latest is against Covid vaccines and vaccine passports.

                                            

So we watch them coming down the street from our balcony, trying to understand their chants.

(Max thought they were saying USA, when I think they were saying Liberty,)

.

We had already watched the police getting ready and dressed in full body protection around the corner not really knowing what was going on earlier in the day. So leaning out, watching the people,====next thing tear-gas cannisters are shot into the crowd... Now we have never been anywhere near something like this and we now understand why people run away so fast.  We were 4 floors up and the gas still managed to get into our eyes and it really stings- very uncomfortable and smells terrible. 

Luckily the whole episode with the gas didn't last longer that about 5-10 mins, and after a lots of shouting and noise etc, things quietened down.

 MORNING FISH MARKET STALLS.

                                Other side of town now, The Cathedral, old tiny streets,old Forts etc. 

The most amazing mosaic floor inside this Catherdal. 

The forts on either side of the old port harbour entrance..

   

We also vsisted the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations. An incerdible eye opening expo about the world as we know it and how we have really screwed it up.

After 2 days the long climb back up to the station to catch the train back to Frontignan.

Thank god no bikes this time.

Of course we love to visit big hardware stores, this like bunnings,

 we just loved to selection of sinks up on the wall. SOOO much choice on view.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST----

The birdman of the South.!! 

Everyday he would come down to the quai and feed the birds.

😀😀😀😀

And we thought Mary Poppins was dead!!!!