May 12, 2010 - Banyuls-sur-Mer

Up early to do the laundry. Ed drove over to Casino to get detergent and put in the whites. We watched news in French while the washer did its job. It looked like rain again so we hung the now-clean clothes upstairs in our office. Found a church for tomorrow.

Decided to drive to Banyuls-sur-Mer for lunch so packed raincoats and umbrellas and headed south. Mt. Canigou was well hidden in very dark clouds. No Canigou photos today! We drove to St. Cyprien Plage and stopped at Elf for gas and then on to Elne trying to find D914. After an unnecessary tour of downtown Elne on market day, we ended up on our road . . . entirely by chance! We drove through mountains bordered by the sea and covered with grape vines, passing Collioure and Port Vendres to Banyuls. Wound down the mountain to centre ville in Banyuls-sur-Mer and started a search for parking,. Had a great tour of Banyuls but finally found free parking by the port. Next . . . lunch.

There was an attractive restaurant across the street so we walked over to check the menu. The price was right but they didn’t identify the special of the day so we asked. It was scallops and Ed doesn’t like them so we started our search again. A few places by the port looked a bit too casual so we walked on and just past the Hotel de Ville found Chez Claude Restaurant with a great nineteen euro menu. We entered and were seated in an inner room near a family of four. Soon another woman was seated at the next table for four by herself. We assumed she would be joined by three others and soon a gentleman arrived and he was quickly followed by another couple. The young waiter had greeted everyone in the room except us with traditional French cheek kisses. It was obvious they all knew each other. We ordered the hot goat cheese salad and sole amandine that was served with small potatoes in a pungent garlic-pepper oil and an artichoke stuffed with onions and mushrooms. Garnish was a delicious roasted tomato Provençal. We opted for ice cream to end. Lovely, friendly restaurant and as we left Claude, the owner, asked us if we were English and when we said American, he brought us back inside and introduced us to the four people who had been sitting beside us. The first woman was from Boston and married to the Frenchman who had come in next. The other couple were friends. We all exchanged greetings, chatted a while and wished each other “bonne journée.” [Chez Claude Restaurant, +33 (0)4 6888-5520] Update: Unfortunately COVID closed this restaurant. There is another in its place but we haven't eaten there.

Claude Restaurant in Banyuls-sur-Mer

Me in Claude Restaurant in Banyuls-sur-Mer

Menu at Claude Restaurant in Banyuls-sur-Mer

Claude taking Ed and me in to meet his friends from Boston

Hopeful pup at Claude Restaurant in Banyuls-sur-Mer

We walked back toward the port snapping pictures while the sun was making a brief appearance. Banyuls has metal picture frames (like Collioure) framing local views and the first one was framing a Maillol sculpture. Several more framed town views with an explanation underneath. We walked out to the Maillol War Memorial and then back, stopping in one gallery where we found a cute set of prints for Peg. We had them all framed in white to go on her dark red walls.

La Jeune fille allongée by Aristide Maillol

Monument aux Morts by Aristide Maillol in Banyuls-sur-Mer

Port at Banyuls-sur-Mer

Phare de Béar near Banyuls-sur-Mer

Across from Banyuls-sur-Mer

The daily storm was closing in so we walked back to the car and managed to exit Banyuls without getting lost. Hooray! Drove back to the apartment and I called Peugeot while Ed checked the laundry. Peugeot had been expecting us at eleven Sunday; I changed it to 3:00 PM so we can relax and take our time.

We zipped over to Casino for bread and wine and are in for the evening,. French news has told us David Cameron is the new British Prime Minister and the stock markets seems very happy!