Ceret - market day and Le Ventous walk

Today was our first market day of many. It snowed lightly as we got croissant, at 8:45am, and most stalls were set up and some just finishing off. I wished I'd had my camera with me as there would be a photo of piles of woolly hats and underwear sprinkled with snow posted here.  Quick breakfast as we are usually rather relaxed in the morning and felt we should be hitting the market by 10am. The roads are closed to traffic, parking lots full, the town centre is bustling, people chatting in groups, cheek kissing, dogs on leash or obediently walking beside, full shopping bags.
From three years ago we know that this is just the start. As the weather warms up there will be more and more stalls and more and more customers.

One of about 5 goat cheese stalls. Mostly little soft rounds but she also had yoghurt. The case
was empty an hour later.

Fresh mussels, clams, urchins and snails.

Sausage, so many kinds and they offer tastes too. Note the colours of the
Catalan flag in the apron.

Sheep cheese, accompanied by photos of the herd.

More cheese, cut from great big wheels. Mum and I were vegetable shopping and left the cheese
to Dad. He bought in the first street and realized that he will have to wait next week and try
some stalls further up the hill.

Sitting by a stall selling big round country bread. Such an expressive little face. looking just
a little worried.

Carrots, cauliflower, pears, mushrooms, a watch, a murse, cheese were all purchased as planned and then we had a coffee at Café Pablo. We sat inside and the café was full, English and French conversations in full swing and dogs sitting patiently under the tables. There are two large supermarkets on the edge of Ceret but their produce departments are small. I realized why when I saw all the shopping baskets full of produce from the market. Leeks seemed very popular, poking out of every bag.

We couldn't resist this for lunch. Looks sort of like a pizza but the crust was flaky pastry. It
was topped with grilled eggplant and peppers, sardines and black olives.

It was packaged in a nice box and tied with ribbon.

We also bought a Poulet Roti (rotisserie chicken) for supper from the stall closest to home (there are 3 or 4 trucks selling this).
After lunch I decided to try and find the walking trail that George and I had taken quite a few times when we were last here. I had the French trail guide and knew to follow the yellow marks.

Through the old town and up la rue des Evades de France to this marker and then it was a question
of looking for the flashes of yellow.

 

On trees,

telephone poles (this one indicates a change in direction)

stone walls and anything else that might be in the right situation.

Where there are intersections the wrong way is marked with a yellow X.

Along the way: free range chickens,

goats,

stepping stones over a little creek,

steep rocky parts, footpaths beside orchards and fields, narrow roads and dirt tracks.

I took frequent breaks partly because I'm in "winter shape" and not yet up to the climbing and partly to listen. So peaceful. No traffic sound as any is muffled by the woods and the hills. The sound of chickens and roosters from the farms and an occasional chainsaw somewhere in the mountains, bells on sheep and goats, sometimes a dog barking. The path follows the top of 3 hills an one side of Ceret so views are towards Canagou, shrouded in clouds today, down into mountain valleys and down towards Ceret.

Ceret between the hills and the Mediterranean way in the distance.

Villas with wonderful views.

On the way back down, Ceret through olive trees.

The Ventous path is 4.5km and took me about 2 hours.