In this part of France (around Perpignan) there is an excellent bus transport network. Every trip costs €1. 

As the car we have been loaned continues to make scary noises, we are less confident to drive it very far. So yesterday morning we were up earlier than usual and I drove us down the steep windy road to Caudiés where we caught a bus at 8.20am and arrived in Perpignan at 9.45am. Once there we headed for the tourist office. The city was very different during the day than what we observed last time we were there, which was on a Sunday when everything was closed. 

As we approached the Office de Tourisme we could hear loud banging or popping noises. We then saw a police barricade and a protest taking place. 

We think the protesters were setting off the explosive devices. 

In this photo if you look hard enough you can see a council gardener continuing his work along the canal. He didn’t seem too worried, so we moved on. 

We left with a pile of timetables for the €1 bus lines and some ideas about how we can explore the area cheaply and without using the car too much, except to get us to and from Caudiés. 

We also made the decision to hire a car for a few weeks and will collect that next Monday. 🚗