Le Grau-du-Roi
30-31 December
We made another large jump, this time from La Grande Motte to Le Grau-du-Roi. In fact it was so far that we had to use a telephoto lens to get this picture of La Grande Motte.
There are so many exquisite towns and villages that we’ll probably never make it to Monaco this decade.
Grau-du-Roi is centered around the sea and the Camargue. It is differentiated from the previous ports we have visited by a greater focus on large fishing vessels and their maintenance, with a nod to the more traditional.
Divided by a canal, a branch of the Rhône to Sète Canal, the town depends on the summer months and the tourist trade for its livelihood. Hotels, restaurants and a promenade border the ocean front, while the streets along the canal provide a venue for waterfront restaurants.
The church is of recent vintage (early 20th century) and very simple. Christmas brings lots of Nativity scenes to Catholic churches.
They are often very busy, but the focus of course is the birth of Christ.
There is a major amusement park just outside the town center and smaller parks within the town.
Here’s a real test for kids – climbing a reverse wall.
Can Aydin and Karina, or Dylan and Mei do this?
The directional signs in Europe are always interesting, informative and sometimes confusing in their proliferation, especially in towns and cities. The trick is to forget about relying on street names since they are invariably difficult to find, and to rely instead on direction of movement. Invariably when you ask for directions you will get directions – like “tout droit” (straight ahead); “toujours tout droit” (keep on going straight). Now that “straight” might involve a host of “ronds points” (roundabouts) one after the other. In the end it is all about direction. Kind of like life, n'est-ce pas?
Grau-du-Roi, being on the periphery of the Camargue, also shows great pride in the horses of the Camargue.
New Year’s Eve was spent in Grau-du-Roi and for those family members who received phone calls or messages this is the precise spot we called from - in front of the train station. By the way does anyone know where Robert is, or why his cell phone isn’t taking messages?
Happy 2007!!
We made another large jump, this time from La Grande Motte to Le Grau-du-Roi. In fact it was so far that we had to use a telephoto lens to get this picture of La Grande Motte.
There are so many exquisite towns and villages that we’ll probably never make it to Monaco this decade.
Grau-du-Roi is centered around the sea and the Camargue. It is differentiated from the previous ports we have visited by a greater focus on large fishing vessels and their maintenance, with a nod to the more traditional.
Divided by a canal, a branch of the Rhône to Sète Canal, the town depends on the summer months and the tourist trade for its livelihood. Hotels, restaurants and a promenade border the ocean front, while the streets along the canal provide a venue for waterfront restaurants.
The church is of recent vintage (early 20th century) and very simple. Christmas brings lots of Nativity scenes to Catholic churches.
They are often very busy, but the focus of course is the birth of Christ.
There is a major amusement park just outside the town center and smaller parks within the town.
Here’s a real test for kids – climbing a reverse wall.
Can Aydin and Karina, or Dylan and Mei do this?
The directional signs in Europe are always interesting, informative and sometimes confusing in their proliferation, especially in towns and cities. The trick is to forget about relying on street names since they are invariably difficult to find, and to rely instead on direction of movement. Invariably when you ask for directions you will get directions – like “tout droit” (straight ahead); “toujours tout droit” (keep on going straight). Now that “straight” might involve a host of “ronds points” (roundabouts) one after the other. In the end it is all about direction. Kind of like life, n'est-ce pas?
Grau-du-Roi, being on the periphery of the Camargue, also shows great pride in the horses of the Camargue.New Year’s Eve was spent in Grau-du-Roi and for those family members who received phone calls or messages this is the precise spot we called from - in front of the train station. By the way does anyone know where Robert is, or why his cell phone isn’t taking messages?
Happy 2007!!
posted by Retired and on the Move | 4:06 AM
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