It was a feat of fortification and architecture with a whole village squeezed inside the high protective walls. There were views in all directions and we could see the juggling for position of boats at the fuel dock already, a great view of the mooring field and the anchorage in the distance.
There appeared to be a lot of activity on our boat so the guys were giving her a good scrub down before we returned. We stopped for a coffee and croissant (as you do!), then wandered around the cobblestone streets in the shade. Michele did a little shopping for the kids and grand kids back home, and we took the opportunity to stock up on a few supplies. We had need of a cool drink by then so headed to a waterside resto with bright red umbrella’s providing shade, and a light sea breeze to counter the mid 90 degree temps. Marie was due by 11 am and I was beginning to wonder if I would recognize her after 9 years. It turns out she was wondering the same thing but we shouldn’t have worried as we knew each other immediately. Marie hadn’t changed a bit, and arrived with her wide smile, a big box of fresh veggies, melons, and home made preserves from her Mum. (A great peach jam and the best marmalade ever which was flavored with a vanilla bean).
A lively afternoon was spent catching up and enjoying the antic’s in the anchorage. At one point we saw a trio of youths capsize the 14 foot catamaran they were on, only to see it right itself and sail right at us unmanned. Mark dove in to grab a line and stall it, but it turned sharply in front of him and sailed down the length of the boat beside us, missing a collision by inches. It wasn’t done yet though, and as we continued watching, it tacked behind the stern of that boat and circled around almost back to the crew that had lost it. A chase boat from shore had turned up by then and handed it back to them..pretty great entertainment though! As the breeze picked up there were windsurfers out and about, and a couple of foiling kite surfers that made a low pitched hum/whistle as they traversed the bay. Boats of all sizes were coming and going. The lunch of grilled shrimp and steak, salad, fresh bread and a fruit and cheese board was washed down with plenty of Rose’ and enjoyed by all at the leisurely dinning pace were were becoming accustomed too. The guys ran Marie back to shore and we continued enjoying the last few hours with Mark and Michele who would be leaving in the morning.
Some time early in the evening a French couple with a Catana 43 NEO that was down our dock in Canet stopped by. They were in the anchorage and had seen our tell-tale silhouette. We invited them for lunch aboard the next day (at the appropriate 12.30 hour).
There wasn’t an abundance of sleep that night, as a beach side nightclub blasted techno until the wee hours..they really know how to live it all up in this part of the globe!