Our first NZ visitors!

We were very excited to have Bruce and Adrianne Beer to stay with us for a few days as part of their extensive Northern Hemisphere travelling. Before they arrived the weather here had been amazing with long hot days and temps up in the high 20's and even the odd 30+ day. The day before they got here down came the rain and the temperatures and that was pretty much how it stayed the whole time they were with us!!! Martin even lit the fire again most days and I had to drag out some winter clothes that I had carefully put away. Go figure!

Welcome to the sunny South of France!

However, intrepid travellers that they are this was all taken in their stride and we managed to climb a few hills and see a few castles, wander around Andorra, see the Mirepoix and Esperaza markets as well as attend a pizza and ice cream afternoon at the home of my French teacher whose husband is Italian and makes the best thin crust pizzas you can imagine. They met most of our new friends over drinks and meals and we managed to down a fair bit of wine and cheese and enjoy ourselves despite the weather! We were sad to see them go!
I have included a few pics of some of our exploits.

Up with the clouds on Montsegur. What a climb (1200 m above sea level) but the view, even through the mist was fantastic. Adrianne wore her new trekking shoes from Switzerland and bounded up the slopes with ease!! A little interesting history:  This was a Cathar castle like many in this area, a place where the Cathars could find refuge from the Catholic 'holy war' against them. During 1243/1244 the castle was laid seige on the orders of the Pope and the King of France. this lasted for over ten months and eventually  over 200 Cathars hold up there were given the option to renounce their Cathar faith or be burned at the stake. On the 16th May 1244, 220 Cathar faithful, men, women and children, marched down the mountain and climbed on to the pyre. All died and there is a memorial to them commemorating their martyrdom on the way up to the castle. Quite a story huh?!

Another impressive 'pile of rocks' as Martin would say and another steep climb to get there. Puilaurens castle has had a number of different residents, from Cathars seeking shelter, to royalty, to a garrison of soldiers. It also had to be defended from Spanish invasion a number of times until it was finally abandoned. How they could build such huge structures perched on the top of steep rocky mountains is a feat of monumental proportions I think!

Amazing views 360 degrees around. Worth all the panting and puffing to get there!

Boy is that first glass of wine...I mean water...going to taste good after we get down from here!

It was really great to be able to share our little part of France with others, we felt like proud parents showing off our new offspring!

 Next month we have Deb and Bill Ussher and Bex coming so we can do some more showing off...I mean around!