European Vacation 2008

On our way back to our lodgings from the Romain Aquaduct at the Pont-Du-Gard we stopped at Beaucaire and had lunch at the La Marine Brasserie / Restaurant.

This is one of those delightful small brasseries you find every where in France. They provide good honest fresh local food from a small kitchen at very good prices. This place - being able to source some excellent local fish, mussels, prawns etc obviously features these on teh menu.

Jacqui had the Prawns specials “Gambas Grillee”  from the blackboard & Hans had the “Marmite du Pecheur” – The Fisherman’s cooking pot (a good solid stock with a mix of large fish and crustations of the day). Jim chose the “Oven baked Camembert” which is served with a generous salad.

The service by a (russian imported) young waitress was very friendly and efficient. Obviously it’s a nice place to eat as many locals seemed to eat there too

We have arrived in Saint Remy at the same place we have stayed at on our two previous visits to the small famous (think Vincent von Gogh) town in the Provence area in southern France. The Hotel Villa Glanum [ www.villaglanum.com ] is a group of small cottage style rooms in an L shape formation with Olive trees in main court yard area. Some of the rooms face the large swimming pool – and we always have so far been lucky enough to be able to stay in a couple of those rooms facing south. Privacy is made possible by hedges and lot’s of bushes and flowering plants. Originally it was only a Bed and Breakfast place (this time the dining room also offers a small menu of basic very good french cuisine. We are pleased to report that the place has undergone some improvements in all areas since the new proprietors took over some 3 years ago. (the original owner passed away just two days before our stay 4 years ago)

We took the first day of our stay and visited the old roman aquaduct site at Pont-du-Gard. [Something I have been meaning to do for some time ]. It is a very impressive monument from the roman days and the current presentation and support site has been developed extremly well by the appropriate Authority.
It is a tourist attraction well worth the visit – there is no entrance fee, instead a high parking fee is charged. The support building complex has a small cinema and an excellent historical display as well as a good selection of the usual tourism geared services.

On our way back to our hotel we stopped over in Beaucaire – enjoyed a walk along the large boat harbour with many specially build / modified barges and modern “house boats” to enjoy the french canal system. The town is supplying good mouring and repair facilities for these new age boating community. We enjoyed and excellent lunch at the La Marine Brasserie (see seperate entry under Food Reports).