Marseillan to Palavas. 4 May

We have  now officially left the Canal Midi. Have lots of thoughts and recommendations but will need to to reflect!

Sad to leave the lovely little town of Marseillan. From here one can cycle to Sete! Maybe next time?

Marseillan, not the best photo.

Passing Sete on the way to Frontignan. We spent two days in Frontignan on the way to the Canal Midi. We had to wait for the wind to die down so we could cross the Etaung Tau. But today it was flat as a pancake. Today we are waiting in Frontignsn for the bridge opening at 4 pm and continue to Palavas-les-Flotes.

We are following this canal through an inland sea, an Etang. This is a canal in the inland sea! It feels strange to be in a canal in a sea.

And here we turned right to Palavas-les-Flotes. If we turned left we would take the Lez river to Montpellier.

Tried to get a photo of the canal in the sea! Quite amazing!

We arrived in Palavas, had to hook up along the quay along the river Lez. I had called this morning to check if there was place and the conversation was a mixture of bad Spanish and even worse French. When we arrived a friendly Capitainerie had no idea that we were coming, but she spoke Arabian and English. There was a strong current and a wind and a strange mooring, but we managed! We saw a crowd gathering on a bridge further down the river.

We got there just in time to see the end of some type of festival with horses and a brass band.

We followed them down to the area around the bullfighting ring.

There was a wonderful band playing music which sounded like music of "The Gypsey'Kings"

Could not resist taking a photo of this trio enjoying the music, such clothes and shoes and enjoyment. It was a pleasure to watch them.

When "The Gypsey Kings" took a a break we looked in at the next place where the brass band from the procession was hammaring away with bullfighting music. Wonderful!

This seems like a wonderful, vibrant town, lots of people and activity all around. We ate moules frites, of course,

Carl is determined to have a last swim in the Meditterean. We will see if he does tomorrow!

Another view of the horses and the brass band outside the bullfighting ring. Actually, I do not know if they have bullfighting or if it is just another type of sport, but they have an arena.

Carl had been particularly interested in this elderly 

gentleman. He is convinced he is trying to sink his boat to claim insurance! 

Some murals from Marseillan.

This one reminds us of Alex and John's Save the Date card, soon 4 years ago!

We have already entered the Canal du Rhone a Sete. We will continue on this canal to St Gilles. After that we join the Petite Rhone and then the mighty Rhone.