The Coast

 Day 21 We had our weekly trip on Friday to Sete and Le Grande Motte which are two cities right on the coast.  Both cities are known for fishing, producing salt, and canals oh and of course their beauty.  Sete was the older town and was established by the central royalty in the 1600s.  It was meant to extend into the Mediterranean Sea with canals going throughout the city, mostly meant for trading purposes of wine textiles and cheese and the production of salt.  We were able to view Sete from many perspectives including the on a boat in the sea, on top of a mountain, near a canal and in the narrow streets.

walking down the hill towards the water 

Cemetery by the Sea

Dad this is for you

Fishing Boat Area

After we explored the city at all different heights we went to a market where all fresh goods were sold.  I Sete the richer class are the people who own many businesses dealing with the same good or task.  For example the people that were selling us the oysters own boats and oyster beds where they grow and take the oysters from, they also sell the fresh product in the market and own restaurants around town where they cook the food.  We were able to taste some live oysters, sea urchins, octopus pie, muscles, and stuffed oysters, all of which I had never tried before.  I decided to go for it and I tried them all and was pleasantly surprised.

Live Oysters and Muscles

Sea Urchins

Octopus Pie Specialty in Sete

Stuffed Oysters

After we tasted the oysters and other sea food we had the opportunity to go out on a boat and see where the oysters grew and also see the city from a new viewpoint.  We saw an old fishing area with broken down shacks and old boats and then traveled through the oyster beds, it seemed like the beds were never ending.

Oyster Beds

Stained glass window inside the church in Le Grand Motte

The end of the boat ride brought us to the other side of the city where our bus was waiting for us and we all hopped abroad and went to our next destination....Le Grande Motte.  Le Grande Motte was a city also on the coast but it was built in the 1960s and 1970s.  It was built as a place for tourist to boost the economy and also a place for new jobs.  Many of the building are not my taste but the place was beautiful none the less.  the buildings are mostly all shaped like pyramids imitating the mountains in the background and allowing for the most views and sunlight through windows.

The church