A Dream Come True: A Visit to Carcassonne

This was the day Cameron had been looking forward to for almost a year. When we were thinking about our trip here, we knew that one place we would not miss would be Carcassonne. Andrew and I had visited here with Axelle several years ago. As we walked through the city streets that time, I kept thinking about how much I wished our children could see this. God gave me my heart's desire, and I am very grateful. It was wonderful to go to Carcassonne again, this time as a family experiencing it together.

Just a little note about the history: The city was originally settled by the Romans in the 2nd century. The castle and the cathedral were built in the 1200s. Over the centuries, it has remained remarkably intact. What needed it was restored in the 1900s. It is designated a world heritage site. It also has some colorful history. Sometime, ask Cameron about Dame Carcasse and how she saved the city by throwing a pig over the wall.

This is the main gate into the city. A drawbridge goes over a moat and you must walk under two portcullises because it is a double-walled city. This was a dream come true for an 8-year-old boy who has been fascinated with knights and castles for a long time. When you pass the gates, one very narrow stone road leads uphill a little ways before branching out into other streets to other parts of the city. A big difference between the time we were here years ago and this visit is the amount of people. It was mobbed this time! Last time, there were barely 10 people exploring the place, but of course it was pretty close to winter then.

This is a view of the actual castle within the city walls. The castle is the tall part in the middle of the picture. Carcassonne (the old city) sits on top of a hill. To the right of the picture, across a river you can't see, is the modern city of Carcassonne.

Here we are walking the circumference of the city between the walls.

Of course, the city has a church building. This is a view of part of it. See the gargoyles?

This is a sundial of sorts

Another view of the area between the walls.

This boy is having a GOOD time (even without all his teeth). His most favorite t-shirt was secretly purchased by his sister in a tourist shop in the city, and presented to him for his birthday. I don't think he took it off for two weeks!

(Posted by Mom)

Sunny Sete

We had such a wonderful time in Sete. We enjoyed spending time with the Affouards(they treated us like family), seeing the sights, and relaxing in their beautiful house.

We also enjoyed a few water fights in the garden. Here, Axelle is relishing her victory.

One afternoon, we visited the ruins of a Roman villa nearby. This is the room with a bath.

The remaining mosaics are the highlight of the villa and much of what the one and a half-hour tour (completely in French, of course) consisted of. We carried around English translations to read while the guide gave the tour. It annoyed Cameron (and a couple other people) to no end that the guide said so many more French words compared to the English.

What you see in these pictures and the foundations of the walls, and the floors with varying amounts of the mosaics intact. They are gorgeous.




Here's a closeup of one. This was the last picture we took...we soon realized that the tour guide had said that no pictures could be taken. The villa was built in stages over time in the 300-600 AD range.

After the tour, we went to take a dip in the Mediterranean. A few brave souls got into the freezing water. Here's Mr. Affouard, Margaret and Andrew. Beyond the horizon is the continent of Africa!

Axelle and Margaret on the beach.

With Axelle and Nicolas on the Affouard's patio that evening before another of Madame Affouard's delicious dinners. The weather was superb every day we were there. The windows and doors were all open night and day, with the sumptuous Mediterranean breezes passing through. The window to Mom and Dad's bathroom opened up to this view, and every morning Mom thoroughly enjoyed the view and the morning breeze while washing her face!

(Posted by Shannon)

Mont St. Clair

We left the Alps mid-morning and headed to the Mediterranean and the beautiful town of Sete. Axelle's family, the Affouards, live on an old volcano sticking out of the Mediterranean. But before we got there, we stopped at the Roman aquaduct, Le Pont du Gard.

This place was crowded--it seemed to be a popular place for recreation. There was a restaurant, beaches, and boats to rent.

We arrived in Sete and Mr. Affouard took us to the top of the mountain for a birds-eye view of the city. Sete is known as the "Venice of France" because of its canals.

A statue on top of the monastery in front of "the pond," a bay on the other side of the mountain. Behind the statue are oyster beds.

The streets on Mt. St. Clair (the little volcano, and the Affouard's neighborhood) were very steep and narrow; this street couldn't even be driven down. See the steps?

The table is set for our dinner on the Affouard's patio. Too bad the view is so shabby.

And the view from their house is gorgeous. This is "The Pond" on the other side of the volcano.

(Posted by Mom)

Don't go to Italy on a Monday

Why? Because nothing is open;or next to nothing, anyway. If we had planned at all, we would have done things a little differently. Oh well. Our biggest regret is that we did not get to go to the museum in the city that houses the world's 3rd best collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt and other early civilizations. It was a bit painful standing outside the door and seeing the "closed" sign.

We did, however, go into the city's most famous cathedral. It is VERY different from the ones we had been seeing in France. It is not as old, and it is much more ornate and colorful. (Think Italian marble.) This one is famous because it houses the Shroud of Turin--a very famous relic. Has anyone reading this ever heard of it? It is supposedly the burial cloth of Jesus and has his image burned into it. There is a chapel-like area in front of the shroud, which is in a vault behind a wall of glass. A photograph of the shroud is hung above the vault. Many people were there, sitting and praying in front of this relic. It is a bit startling to watch this.

We spent a lot of time walking around the city. It most definately had a different flavor from anything we had seen in France.

Don't forget, this was the site of the last winter Olympics.

Of course, we all know that Italy is famous for its chocolate and pastries. We passed a shop window, or rather we tried to pass a shop window, but were arrested by the beautiful cakes and candies. (Sorry, Tara!)

Have you seen enough? We had, and promptly went and bought gelato! That's another thing Italy is famous for. It was superb

We could not find anywhere to eat that was reasonably priced, so we headed back through the mountains, thinking we would find a little place in a mountain town where we could have dinner. We stopped in the town of Susa, Italy (not Babylon).

We found this little pizzeria.

He is anticipating the delicious pizza and pasta we had just ordered.

It was delicious and affordable!

The town was quite cute.

Aren't the mountains simply beautiful?

Interestingly enough, we did not have to go through any border checks, or show our passports, but the drive up over the pass was quite exciting. There are long tunnels, very windy roads on which people drive very fast. Along some of these roads are incredible drop-offs. Some of us delighted in looking down over the edge and the rest of us either closed our eyes or looked the other way!

(Posted by Mom)