Framed

A change in the weather today brought really string winds and choppy seas outside the sheltered harbours. In an incident on the seafront, one of the large sunshade umbrellas was whipped away and went flying towards people eating outside a restaurant. The umbrella smashed into a table and destroyed everything on it, but fortunately those sitting at it were uninjured.

It was my turn to go to the boulangerie for breakfast fare, a trip which I combined with a photo wander. After breakfast we set off for the furthest point across the bay, gradually making our way to the rather posh-looking Neptune restaurant. Before that we'd stopped once again at Bar de la Marine and had a glorious lunch there. We spotted a set seafood menu for €25 which includes a whole lobster, and decided then and there to try that tonight. (I've been a lobster virgin up until this, and have been threatening for some time to change that. Here in Collioure seemed as good a place as any to make it happen.)

On our travels we came across another of the set of twelve sculptural frames which are scattered around Collioure, each of which frames a view of the Église Notre Dame des Anges. It also nicely frames Carl.

Our trek across the bay proved successful, including a leisurely walk up to the top of the Chateau Royal. Towards the very end, down at the waterside past the Neptune restaurant, we decided to chance crossing a paved section which the waves were crashing onto. Carl got through okay, but I caught the full splash of the seventh and got soaked. Fortunately, the weather was good enough apart from te wind to dry me off within half an hour.

The obligatory siesta followed the walk back to our apartment, and then we kept the promise to ourselves and had the lobster meal at Bar de la Marine. Lots of fun with the claw crackers, but it was all well worth it. I am no longer a lobster virgin! The night ended in the tiny Le Petit Café, a really nice spot, quaintly decorated.