Life is slower in Collioure

Hotel Le Mas des Citronniers
We have a courtyard room with a tiny patio

Life is slowing down for us in Collioure. Everyone sleeps late, eats lunch from 12:30 to whenever, then takes a nap. The stores reopen at 3:00p. Dinner doesn't start until 7:00p and people are watching the soccer games all day and cheering everywhere.

View of Collioure and Notre Dame de Agnes

Today we went to the Chateau Royale of Collioure, right next to the hotel. It was very cool, lots of tiny windows perfect for shooting arrows out of, and to take pictures from. The early part of the castle dates from 1172. It is well preserved and not embellished, so you can really get a sense of what it must have been like in the 1100s. I think there is a very primal human feeling connected to stone and you can feel that when you walk through this chateau/fort.


Passage way in Chateau Royale



A port surrounds it, and in this port is Collioure's biggest regional export and what they are most famous for, anchovies! Inside the castle there was a modern art exhibit (how french) that was all about anchovies. It even smelled like them.
Smiling anchovies :)
Smiling Dani and anchovies.


After that, we went to Notre Dame de Agnes. I (Dani) am not much of a church person, but this place was amazing. No flowery fancy french decor, just Spanish amazingness. This is a picture of the main altar, it was so detailed and golden, I was actually in awe. Very very pretty.
Then we had a delicious lunch, as always! I had tuna (amazing) and Leigh had a nice salad with little hot goats cheese on toasts. Mmmmm delicious.
A nice walk after lunch lead us around all the little shops. I wanted to buy these pig planters so bad for my mom, but they would break on the plane. So mom, imagine I bought them for you. You're welcome!