March travel - Spain & France

I joined Don in the UK a few weeks ago for a little March traveling. He was there for a conference. I spent a day in London on my own, then we flew to Barcelona for a few days. What a great city! Lots to see and do. Lots of northerners there for the weekend - we met people from London, Liverpool and Finland. Took in the Gaudi architectural sites, the beach, Las Ramblas area (where our hotel was) and even some impromptu events. 

Two beach views in Barcelona

 Then we took a train up to Collioure, France, on the Mediterrean, that is one of the most beautiful towns I've seen - up there with Honfleur, France. We walked all over that town, including hiking up to a castle overlooking the area. There is a military training facility there so while we were soaking up the scenery, young men were doing drills along the little beach and in the water. 

Two views of Collioure - old town & new town

Next we took the train to Carcassonne - a town dominated by a huge medieval castle. We stayed just outside the castle walls but ate in the delicious restaurants each night. 

While in Carcassonne we rented a car. We drove south one day to hike up to the Chateau Peyrepertuse, a Cathar castle that is perched way too high on the edge of cliffs for a acrophobic like me!  Then we drove through and along the deepest gorge I've ever seen, stopping part way for a typical French picnic (cheese, bread, wine, chocolate!).  The next day we drove north to Albi - in the "red brick" region of France. Also stunningly beautiful.

Artwise we toured the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi. Plus, the town of Collioure was filled with framed posters of famous artists randomly placed on the streets throughout the town ... including lots of Matisse:

A Matisse hanging in the street in Collioure

We flew home from Toulouse. It was a interesting trip to a beautiful part of Europe. (Isn't it all beautiful over there?!)