A group of UK friends, all rugby mad, have been spending the past few weeks in a rented accomodation in Collioures by the seaside.

They decided to take the opportunity andcome here to Carcassonne for a couple of days. I picked them up at the train station lunch time a couple of days ago and we started with a fairly busy program I had kind of planned.

After checking in their hotel “Les Trois Couronnes”, we went for lunch on Place Carnot followed by a short walk round town and then to my house for the obligatory after lunch coffee. I “gave” them a couple of hours free time which was an excuse for me to have my daily nap.

We arranged to meet at the hotel at 6pm so we could walk to my friend’s “Cave à Vin” for a wine tasting. Dominique who runs the place did an excellent job and introduced the gang to Bio and Naturel Wine. I think everyone was suitably impressed with the wines and the clear and knowledgeable explanations from Dominique.

AT Natur’Halles

Time to go for dinner a few hundred yards away at the “Brasserie des 4 Temps”. Excellent dinner once again with good wine and a nice Armagnac to finish before everyone went home.

Day 2

We meet at 10 am and go to town again to purchases a few cases of wine from Dominique. I shall have to pick them up and arrange shipment to the UK at some point.

As planned we walk up to the Cité for a tour folowed by  lunch at “Comte Roger“. Beautiful day to sit outside.

Aperitif time before the meal

A couple of the guys had to have the well known Cassoulet.

All in all an excellent lunch and we were really well looked after by my friend, owneer and chef Pierre. Very enjoyable and one of the best lunch I have had in a while.

On the way down back into town, there is the obligatory photo on the “Pont Vieux” with the Cité in the background.

A couple of hours left before the gang has to catch their train home. Time to pick up their overnight bags left at the hotel and head into town for a last drink “Chez Felix” Place Carnot.

We part our ways a couple of hours later but it is only a short au revoir since I am going to join them in a couple of days in Collioure for an overnight and watch the England – France match. That could prove interesting.

In the meantime the match is cancelled due to a major typhoon hitting Japan. Both teams which are already qualified for the quarter final are awarded a no score draw.