Snow in the South of France


Carcassonne ground to a virtual halt at the weekend.  Awakening on Saturday morning to the eerie hushed silence it was easy to let your imagination run wild and believe that the town had been evacuated and you had been left in your cosy warm bed by mistake. Where there would have been the constant sound of bustle and traffic there was nothing.  Out came the assortment of snow boots, berets, woollen hats and thick warm jackets as we ventured out in search of a fresh baguette.  We encountered a handful of people as we trudged our way up the muffled streets.

2b bounced round full of the joys of a fresh fall of snow and the knowledge that everything would be closed and that for the day at least it was a forced holiday.  'We're going to walk round La Cité' he announced and before I knew where I was I was sliding along the cobbles and taking in the spectacular sight of the Medieval Bastide towering menacingly above us.  The tiny church under the ramparts chimed prettily on the hour, huge piles of soft virgin snow lay in drifts and where the moat was you could imagine you were walking in a never ending bowl of freshly whipped egg whites.  It was utterly invigorating being virtually the only souls wandering through the arches and exploring the tiny streets when during the summer months you can barely move for bodies jostling for space as they soak up the culture.

Everyone else had sensibly made their way to Les Halles, the covered market place, where they were tucking into a plate of delicious freshly sliced cured ham, chorizo sausage, creamy cheese and a robust homemade paté.  Partaking too of an agreeable chilled rosé added greatly to the ambiance and feeling of wellbeing.

Dangerous razor sharp icicles hung from the high rooftops overhead, fat grey pigeons huddled closely together in tiny alcoves, their eyes tightly closed whilst the few tourists that there were looked bemused and vaguely bewildered.

I took lots of pictures of course, I'm wondering if there will be ever be a day when I shall trip along with a luscious fat expensive handbag dangling from my arm rather than a compact little camera.

I doubt it, I'm really not that sort of woman.

As you can see here

Comments

Mon Dieu, Sally! Has it really dared to snow in Carcassonne? Mind you it does sound pretty and your icicle pictures are totally amazing. Definitely stick to the compact camera - handbags are so noughties.

Hoping to get some glimpses of Hotel Particulier before too long...
Frances said…
Sally, as always your pictures and words take us right there to France! Thank you for letting us see those snowy views without even having to done boots or beret.

Please forgive me if I have missed a chapter, but ... hoping that the missing cat turned up before the snow fell.

xo
Pondside said…
No moon boots, puffy down or knobby scarves for the French from that photo. Your pictures are gorgeous - I had a good look around your collection. Stay warm way over there - it can't last long.
Fred said…
Sally, your photos are fabulous especially the one at the start of this blog. I love the timelessness of it.
Like LBD I await pics of Hotel Particulier...
Sally Townsend said…
LittleBrownDog and eleanor's byre, Thinking hard on how I can make a renovation project blog post interesting without sending everyone to sleep in the process....
Ange said…
Ha - I too am a camera girl. Handbags get in the way! Pleased to see you are feeling well enough to get out again. The snow left us carless for 3 days and it was wonderful. I couldn't get out of my driveway and got to spend 3 days sledding down our hill, racing through the snow and even picking the kids up from the neighbour's by foot on the Monday afternoon. Gee my house was light too! Looking forward to pics too. Looks like our house affair is going sour - can't wait to tell you about it and must really start writing the blog!
mountainear said…
Give me a camera any day - and how lucky we are to have these gorgeous digital jobs where clicking 1,000 times and taking one successful shot costs nought.
Crazy weather all over. We've been freezing... with snow as well. The dogs are joyful.
Elizabethd said…
I can't imagine Carcassonne under snow!
Hi Sally,
La cite was my highlight of 2009, the philistines that came with us commented after my squeal of delight as it came into view "Calm down Sue it's only a building!"
Is it me?
Take care pace yourself.
Susanx
Exmoorjane said…
This is lovely, Sally - fab blog. Always adore your pictures... Dear god, those raspberries....
no11carcassonne said…
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