Sunday 22 June: Beziers

Eventually it cooled down enough and we all got some sleep. The music finished at about 12.30 which wasn’t too bad and everything was quiet not too long afterwards.

We did some washing and headed out to find coffee and something to eat. There seemed a shortage of open cafes although the market had a good selection of ready to eat food and ingredients for cooking at home.

The market had not long opened at this stage. It was considerably busier later on.

We found a restaurant around from the main square that had a good brunch menu but of course it was 11.40am so the kitchen had closed for breakfast and brunch – and likewise for all the other cafes. So we headed back to the market and got some pieces of quiche that came with salad and some excellent coffees which you could enjoy at one of the tables between stalls/shops.

Some of these streets are really very pretty with these decorations.

After our coffees we got tickets to this funny little tourist train thing which was absolutely worth taking.

There is an audio you can listen to but mostly it’s quite nice music.

It wound us around the old town and down to the canals where we had a half hour stop and walk around a shaded boardwalk.

There are a series of nine locks although only 7 now function.

Looking back at the cathedral and historic centre

Not sure what this building is across the canal but it looks very French.

Then it took us back up the hill to where the cathedral is – and which is where we are staying. There’s a cool park near an art history museum and lots of people were enjoying the shade.

Large sculpture of Atlas doing his thing.

The side chapel, presumably of the Virgin Mary.

The view out towards the canal. The views all around were stunning.

After a visit to the cathedral we had some rehydration and then returned to our apartment for some siesta time.

There can never be too much rehydration.

In the evening we took a stroll to another restaurant recommended by our host. It was just along from the one we ate at last night and was closed. The next option along the square might have room for us in half an hour ie 8.30. It was too hot to wait. We went further along to the place where we tried to get breakfast. Success.

It has a large outdoor seating area and had some music playing from a stereo system. We ordered drinks and food after struggling with the Google translate over the menu. Barb and I went for the steak with ratatouille and a side of chips for the table to share. Mike opted for sea bream with risotto. We also ordered a bottle of local red wine, which turned out to be Cabernet Merlot and thoroughly delicious.

Mike was the winner with the fish. The meat was definitely rare, rather than medium rare. We have found that throughout our trip. The steak was also a pretty ordinary cut of meat, but edible. However the service and entertainment was outstanding.

At about 9pm this musician started up with a saxophone and then electric guitar.

He had an excellent repertoire that was quite varied with everything from jazz to rock and then a virtuoso performance of a tenor solo from an opera which we all recognised but could not name. (Pavarotti has definitely sung it 😂). Our bloke was great entertainment and served the restaurant well as we ordered a second bottle of that wine to enjoy for the rest of his performance. He finished at about 10.30.

The music in the area seemed to be coordinated as the night club down the square started up briefly just before 10 while our guy had a break and then stopped again until he finished.

I also found out from our waiter that the lights are just up for the summer season and they have a different theme every year. Last year it was the constellations and it looks like this year may be Cinderella or Versailles!

This olive tree is outside the Hotel de Ville (council building) and is apparently 2000 years old! it’s quite large but not tall. The photo is a bit deceiving.