This is truly a magical part of the world as the impressionist painters long before us had already discovered. The scenery is startling at every turn of the road. The climate is pleasant and the food from the sea is fabulous. Although the view from the balcony on our hotel is not the sea, it still affords a great location for relaxation.
After a wonderful hotel breakfast, we headed out in the car to explore. We first took the road out of Port Vendres to the top of Fort St. Elme, one of the noteworthy sites from Collioure.
The road up was a pretty good single lane two way road - typical. Once there, the views of Collioure and beyond were astounding.
This is wine country, surprisingly, and the vineyards are steeply pitched like those along the Rhine River, meaning that everything is hand picked and therefore the prices of their wines are a little high. We continued from there along the coast through Banyuls - land of digestif wines - and almost to the Spanish border. This coastal road is wildly convoluted and not where one can make good time, but it is a pretty drive.
Back in Collioure we headed down to the old town to a restaurant recommended by the hotel - Casa Leon.
Apparently this is where the freshest fish are to be found. Once seated, we started with anchovies two ways - salted and marinated. Anchovies are one of the local specialities.
Main course for C. C. & D. was a huge platter of fish, monster shrimp and octopus. Dinner for me was Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops) with foie gras, accompanied by a glass of Banyuls, their sweeter digestive wine. It was some of ther best fish and seafood ever.
After lunch, we strolled out to the far end of the breakwater for some more great scenery.
We stopped along the breakwater at a cafe for some fortification for our walk back to the hotel. The weather was improving and the beach was getting crowded, despite the fact that the beach is rocky..
Back at the hotel we grabbed some quick pool time. Then for dinner, we walked in a new direction around the chateau to the old beach. We found a place on the far side of the bay that was "happening" and stopped for a drink.
Geting into this place was alot easier and safer than the narrow gauntlet along the breakwater to get out.
Our dinner spot was only a short ways up the beach from our first stop, but by 7:30 it was getting cool and we opted for inside.
Pizza was the order of the day with a bottle of Collioure red. We had three pizzas that we shared. The 1.3km walk back was cool, but a brisk pace made it bearable.
After a wonderful hotel breakfast, we headed out in the car to explore. We first took the road out of Port Vendres to the top of Fort St. Elme, one of the noteworthy sites from Collioure.
The road up was a pretty good single lane two way road - typical. Once there, the views of Collioure and beyond were astounding.
This is wine country, surprisingly, and the vineyards are steeply pitched like those along the Rhine River, meaning that everything is hand picked and therefore the prices of their wines are a little high. We continued from there along the coast through Banyuls - land of digestif wines - and almost to the Spanish border. This coastal road is wildly convoluted and not where one can make good time, but it is a pretty drive.
Back in Collioure we headed down to the old town to a restaurant recommended by the hotel - Casa Leon.
Apparently this is where the freshest fish are to be found. Once seated, we started with anchovies two ways - salted and marinated. Anchovies are one of the local specialities.
Main course for C. C. & D. was a huge platter of fish, monster shrimp and octopus. Dinner for me was Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops) with foie gras, accompanied by a glass of Banyuls, their sweeter digestive wine. It was some of ther best fish and seafood ever.
After lunch, we strolled out to the far end of the breakwater for some more great scenery.
We stopped along the breakwater at a cafe for some fortification for our walk back to the hotel. The weather was improving and the beach was getting crowded, despite the fact that the beach is rocky..
Back at the hotel we grabbed some quick pool time. Then for dinner, we walked in a new direction around the chateau to the old beach. We found a place on the far side of the bay that was "happening" and stopped for a drink.
Geting into this place was alot easier and safer than the narrow gauntlet along the breakwater to get out.
Our dinner spot was only a short ways up the beach from our first stop, but by 7:30 it was getting cool and we opted for inside.
Pizza was the order of the day with a bottle of Collioure red. We had three pizzas that we shared. The 1.3km walk back was cool, but a brisk pace made it bearable.
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