A walk up Montsegur

Views from the top....beautiful...takes about 25 minutes steep climb but worth the view.

Montsegur lies 30 km east of Foix, at just over 1,200 metres above sea level. Will write more about the history later as I have a plane to catch!!

It's finished!

Update on the wheel

Yes, confirmed it is a giant Wheel! Threequarters finished. They are now building something else! What can it be I wonder? Looks like railway lines for Santa's sleigh!



On your marks, get set......

Update on the ice rink!

It is all built and now they are getting down to the serious business of the 'ICE'- spraying it with water to ice over..isn't that clever! Oh, and placing Christmas trees all around to hide all the 'works'. It is going to look lovely.

More shop windows in Carcassonne

Another walk into town this afternoon for a chocolat chaud and more lovely windows.










This is my favourite shop, a mini Selfridges! I can only look as it is 'frightfully' expensive darling! If I ever win the lottery I will be in there, not just to look but to BUY!!

This is another delightful shop. Full of lovely things you don't really need BUT...!

The Wheel on Boulevard Barbes - or is it?

Now that the ice rink has been built, Mike has found another project to watch at the bottom of Boulevard Barbes! Not quite sure what it is yet but we think it could be a giant wheel, like the one in London...I suppose I will have to give it a go!
The centre piece looks like an' Easter Bonnet'

Toulouse

A trip to Toulouse was a little disappointing yesterday. We expected to find wonderful shops and exotic window displays for Christmas but sadly not. We think the small shops in Carcassonne have made a better effort!

However, amongst some ugly modern buildings i.e The University, there were some gems...the Basilique St. Sermin was one of them. I also found a lovely Art Deco house in a small side street but did not take a photo because of building work going on outside. The modern art gallery will have to wait for another day as we spent so much time wandering around the streets looking for an art supplier shop-and failed! Even the sun came out at midday but made no difference to what we thought of Toulouse.

Sorry Toulouse, perhaps one day we will grow to love you.
Basilique St.Sernin...beautiful eleventh century architecture...like a decorated cake!

Fountain at 'Place Wilson'
Where we didn't go for lunch..recommended by our friend Raymond...another time! Restaurant L'Entrecote is a famous chain in France and perhaps the world! People queue around the block for their set menu of 'steak and apple pie'- but not on the same plate!

Christmassy shop windows in Carcassonne

'So this is Christmas'

These are so delicious chocolates but sooo expensive!



Delightful bread shop and it even sells 'spelt' bread!


Not exactly 'Fenwicks' window but naive in a cute way! Can you spot Ryan Air?

Christmassy shop windows in Toulouse

I was hoping to find lots of exotic shop windows in Toulouse but was so disappointed! These were only two that I liked! Nice hair!!
Christmas chickens that wont' go in the pot because they are pot!

'Tango' chicken strutting his stuff!!

'I''m bigger than you!' Wonderful ceramic chickens by artist Freddo Saccaro. The small ones were 149 euros...so goodness knows what 'Mr Rooster' costs!

Chez Felix

We go there so often they are now reserving a table for us..by the heaters:-). We have a good view of the ice rink too. We had delicious soupe de potirons - pumpkin soup.