Ceret - Collioure has it all.

We tried a different kind of baguette today, epi,. It breaks apart easily at the junction points.
I noticed the bakery also sells gluten free bread. Going with the times and keeping traditions.

We drove to Collioure today. Last time we were here we went a number of times and it is a photographers (and sketchers) dream. It is always pretty busy and, as we had chosen a warm, sunny day, today was no exception.

Mum and I sat on the beach wall and sketched the clock tower of the church, that also doubled
as a lighthouse at one time. This is a favorite subject for painters and you see it depicted in posters,
paintings, postcards and pottery.

And now in our sketch books too.

While we were sketching Dad was walking the restaurants and examining menus. Collioure is expensive as it is definitely a tourist town and the restaurants on the waterfront have prime locations. We paid twice as much for a cup of coffee as we do in Ceret.

We ended up at a restaurant one block back from the water and were able to get a table
in the sun.

We had the menu du jour. I had the tapas for my first course which consisted of
Serrano ham, anchovies, marinated red pepper, bruschetta, pear in banyul wine
and a small salad.

I followed this with catalane grille which was a pork rib, blood sausage, sausage and a dish of carrots pureed with pepper and cream. Mum had the grilled fish and Dad the moules frites (mussels and French fries). Mum and I had crème catalan for desert (another name for crème brulee) and Dad had ice cream. Although it was more expensive that what we are used to for our lunches out (18 Euro) we realized we'd be hard pressed to get a meal like this in Canada for the equivalent, about $26.
Mum and I left Dad sitting in the sun and walked around the inside of the church and then beyond to the next beach where we sketched again.

We sat on the beach with our backs to the sea wall to sketch the bell tower, castle (chateau royal)
the bay, town and the hills behind.

I then walked out on to the sea wall and watched the sailboats in a beautiful 10 knot wind. Sorry Port Dover sailors but you can sail all year round here.

This was being soloed and I watched him sail it in to the bay, very handily tack it about
and sail back out. Showing off for the tourists.

The lighthouse at the end of the sea wall and, in the distance, the
fortress on the next point.

Hard to believe this is still in use though Collioure is not a major harbor
any more. The only boat on the wharf was a glass bottom tour boat.

Meanwhile Dad had been entertained by the local commando garrison
practicing building a bridge with poles and rope. It took them a while
but it was very sturdy when finished.

Mum and I walked around the fort, along this beach and sat in the sun out of
the wind on the other side. Mum sketched and I lay in the sun, soaking it up.

Back to have a coffee with Dad and then we drove home. Collioure has 3 forts, the unusual bell tower, church and lighthouses, 2 stoney beaches and one sandy one, palm trees, terraces of vineyards climbing the hills, cafes and restaurants on the waterfront and resident commandos. The two bus loads of American school girls, here on their senior trip, were quite impressed with the commandos.