Day 34: Chateau de Pegrepertuse

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Carcassonne is one of our favorite places. We walked back to the castle at 10.30am as it was getting set up for a long, hot Sunday. First stop was the medieval ATM; a premonition of the next few hours. Mornings are still in the 20oCs, the heat getting above 35oC everyday so far. Evenings are cooler thank goodness. Did I mention that it was 11oC down the stalagmite cavern; still warmer than Melbourne so you tell us!!??

Kimmy has proudly handed the Monarch of Shopping baton over to Will. Souvenir heaven with wonderful statues, amour, guns, swords, catapults, and unique items that had to get towed back to Edithvale. The Peugeot groans when we try to slam the boot shut. “Only little items only” policy has been flung along with common sense. Having carted Glory bells for the front porch from Anamatea, Italy, Sonic the Hedgehog from San Francisco, we now have wonderfully crafted metal people from France, made in Germany crammed into the boot which shares territory with the Venetian wall mask. We aren’t worried about maxing out the AMEX because we will be charging you all a fee to come visit and see our collection!! Even the toilet will be worth a stop!

Au Revoir France

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The GPS, aka Gypsy, headed off once again through the rolling, rollicking hills, wineries and forests of Provincial France and the Pyreneans mountains to see a castle/chateau established in the 12^th century. So our route went around blind turns, hairpin bends and we didn’t sight another car. Note to self: make sure you consult the road map to scope out the quality of the road. Will commented that his Subaru would have able to fly through these roads; my response was what would you do once you stacked it into one of the numerous corners? Rally driving in these hills would be awesome but you would never get out of second gear. Billy, having mastered rollercoasters, happily plays Tamagotchi games. We were all feeling a bit car sick by the time we arrived.

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By the time we arrived on top of a dusty mountain top, at least 40oC, we then had to hike up to the actual Chateau de Pegrepertuse through bush tracks. It was hard work and very high up. Billy pretty well talked the whole time up and down…king of the castle and asking lots of questions. He is great company and distracts us from being up a dusty, rocky old pile of rocks having paid for the privilege At the top we witnessed a re-enactment of something involving swords, musical instruments and a few laughs but we missed the point somewhat.

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Ok, off to Spain, having had a few cokes, chips and salad rolls at a journey stop full of families, dogs inside slurping cups of water and a lovely looking lady who no one told her skirt was tucked into the back of her undies. Au Revoir France.

Now this is a true story and I am not joking. We crossed the boarder into Spain, tooted the horn, looked for someone to wave us down and stamp our passport SPAIN, had the tachometer click back over to zero and it started to rain!! Rain in Spain..get it…and we are serious.

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Last minute post regarding Spain, Barcelona is huge...and we mean really damn big. We found a hotel we had picked up, got upgraded at no charge and have two large beds, sofa's, desk and internet and plenty of room in a the hotel room...and best of all...a heated towel rack to dry our clothes on. Woo hoo Spain is looking good already...and best of all...not a rock in sight!!