Returning to Fenouillet has allowed Mick and me to investigate the places we love in this part of France. Collioure being one of those places. I took this photo using one of the many frames placed strategically around the town for exactly that purpose.

Our visits have taken place mostly during winter, but the last time we were here was with our next door neighbours and friends from Australia (Derek and Helen) in August. And it was so busy.

Make that too busy.

As a comparison, in August we had to line up to make a reservation at a restaurant recommended by our host, and only then could we manage a midday booking. While we were there enjoying our meal, many people were turned away. But, on this visit in October, that restaurant only had one elderly couple as its customers.

The photo on the left was taken in August and the one on the right was taken yesterday.

As we walked towards the town from the (€1)bus, we could hear some great jazz music being played. As we got closer, we saw a man standing in the water playing his saxophone. His mate was sitting on the ledge at the base of the huge wall, accompanying him on his guitar. They were trying to sell their CDs.

Mick and I enjoyed walking around the small colourful streets, enjoying the smells and sounds of Collioure. While it wasn’t too busy, there were enough tourists and at least two bus loads of visitors that I think gave the many restaurants some hope of making some money.

We decided to walk to another part of the town to get a different view of the majestic fortified wall.

It was warm, and there were a few brave bathers enjoying a dip, while others sat or rested in the sunshine. Mick and I were sorry we forgot our swimmers.

Can you spot Mick in this picture on the left sitting and enjoying both the sun and the “view”!!

Near where I took these photos was an advertisement for a scuba diving school, and right on cue, this boat pulled in. It had just finished working with a group of tourists on a huge catamaran that was moored off the shore, which left shortly afterwards.

By this time, we were ready for some lunch, and just for a change we ate at a restaurant on this side of the town. Mick had cooked an amazing Fisherman’s Stew the previous night when we had had a friend over for dinner, so he chose the pork and I went for a pizza with the very famous local sardines from Collioure.

Not that I ate all that pizza.

This was probably our last time in Collioure. Definitely for this year. But, I never like to say “never”.

I could not resist taking a photo of this Prickly Pear plant, dripping with fruit, growing on a ledge near the water. These plants are noxious weeds in Australia, but there were a lot of them growing on the slopes the bus climbed to get us to Collioure. We have seen the fruit for sale in the markets recently, but have not been brave enough to try them.

When we returned to Caudiès in the late afternoon, we visited the (Russian) owner of the chambres d’hôtes where we stayed in August so we could see how our friend’s sheep (Betty) was settling in.

That is Betty, the second from the left at the back. She was happy, and according to the new ‘owner’ Lucy,  Betty is “in love” with the ‘black sheep’ (not in the picture), and Lucy is hoping Betty is “making babies in her tummy now”.