South of France Day 6

On Saturday morning we headed off to the local village of Pezanas to check out the local weekly market. There were stalls selling second hand clothing, hot food, produce, flowers, meat, fish, handbags, soaps, and jewelry. I bought a really nice pink straw handbag there that I really love. You'll see it in later photos. This statute was on top of a fountain in the middle of the market.



After checking out the market, we walked around the town looking at all the shops. Here are Lizzie and Sophie taking a ramble.

There was a beautiful chocolate there in the town and I bought a very limited supply of these candies just for a taste. They're chocolate, but they're made to look like olives. They had a nut at the center for a pit! Yum!


I loved the pretty old doors in Pezanas. Here's me with my new purse!


There are lots of shops in the narrow streets of this old town. We walked around for awhile and then stopped for tea and ambled about some more. I thought these were really great paintings. If Brian and I had more money we'd be buying art on our travels.

Iain sampling the wares of a local children's shop.

Tea break!

After having a leisurely lunch at a cafe, (Savory crepes are tasty!) we split up. Brian, Anthony, Iain, and I headed to Beziers to check out the Canal du Midi. Before railroads, this was part of a network of canals that allowed manufacturers to ship their goods quickly and cheaply across the country. England has many canals as well. Today they are mostly used for pleasure boating.

This section of the canal had nine locks! We got to watch several boats go through, which was noisy and interesting. Iain didn't like it because her got sprayed with some water. He started crying and Anthony took him a little further away from the action.



After checking out the locks, we walked further along to this nice quiet dock. Iain and I waited here while Brian and Anthony rented a little boat.


The canal had trees planted on both sides as far I could see. I don't know who did this or why, but it is beautiful.
Iain didn't put up a fuss about the lifejacket, for which I was very thankful. I thought he looked especially adorable in it.
Iain was fascinated by the view from the boat. (Well, for the first portion of the journey, anyway!)


Look who's driving!

Well, ok, with a little help from Papa.


Ah, relaxing on the boat!
After the view got old, Iain enjoyed trying to blow his rescue whistle.


It was getting cloudy and chilly during our boat ride, but it didn't rain on us. Here is the view of Bezier from the canal.


After we finished boating, we headed into the old center of Beziers. We drove all round the crazy old streets fitting the car down narrow passageways that we weren't entirely sure we'd fit through and finally made it to the cathedral which was our goal. It is high up on the hill in the center of town. The view is beautiful.

Anthony and I took a quick peek in the cloisters and sanctuary at the cathedral.