Limoux Afternoon

I never, never tire of this view

I took a little afternoon jaunt to Limoux with my friend Shelley and her guest from the US, Julia.  It was the first time either had the pleasure of the 1 Euro train--what a treasure we have in that regional transport.  

Julia and Shelley

Handsome guy looking for lunch in the Aude

We got a rather late start, but got there in time for the end of lunch service.  It was a bit cooler in Limoux than it was when we left Carcassonne, where it had been spitting rain (warm) all morning.  I had had my own encounter with my bank, trying to get my new account card to work.  Let's just say that the machine keeps your card if it thinks you are too dense to get the PIN right after the third try.  So an afternoon in Limoux was much preferable to more negotiations with the bank.  

Shelley and her new friend (between the chairs)

Pots of petunias high off the ground

Flower pots on the lampposts on the old bridge

We were surprised by a field of sunflowers just this side of the Flassian station.  I was on the wrong side of the train going, but managed to get a seat coming back which could give me a chance at a photo.  I have never before seen an entire field of sunflowers, all their heads aligned toward the sun.  The French word for sunflower is "tournesol" --turn to the sun. 

Field of sunflowers

Lunch was outside, of course, and with dogs, of course, and delicious, of course.  We all had salads, light but satisfying.  I am managing to decline the bread, and the dessert.  Maybe some of the habits of French women are starting to rub off on me.  

My favorite house in Limoux

Afterward, we visited the wine store that sells Shelley's favorite Cremant de Limoux and she came away with several bottles.  Then we set off for Saint Martin's church (closed)  and the Piano Museum.  I have tried on about 8 occasions to get in to see this exhibit and on every visit, the place has been closed.  I am batting a thousand, because, guess what?? They are closed on Tuesdays.  So, we set off on a little exploration of the town. Just up the street from the eternally locked Piano Museum, we chanced upon the Church of the Assumption.  In all the visits to Limoux, I have never even seen this church, much less entered it.  It was open and we climbed up and went in.

Center dome's stained glass

Charming painting in the Church of the Assumption

Interesting red Neo-Romanesque ceiling

What a lovely church!  Light-filled.  The sacristan was there and very graciously answered my questions and explained the very unusual ceiling.  He was charming and justifiably, very proud of his building.  Julia was able to explain a little about the placement of such things as the confessional and the baptismal font, which are placed differently in most Catholic churches.  

A very purple truck and a very big bottle

We meandered through the back streets of Limoux, crossing the new bridge, gazing into the Aude, enjoying hundreds of flowers, peering into shop windows.  I took her to Merilee's shop/atelier where Shelley got some ideas for an art project to decorate the walls of her new house here in Carcassonne.  I promised that if she wanted to come to Merilee's Tuesday Crafternoons, I would come with her, although my artistic ability leans more toward slinging and slopping paint all over myself as opposed to producing anything I would hang on my own wall!

Pierrot topiary

We encountered some interesting sights as we worked our way back to the train station:  a purple car with an oversized wine bottle in the back; a topiary shaped like a Pierrot, in honor of Limoux's longest-running and oldest Carnaval; my "hanging" tree leafed out and looking almost normal.  

I had a lovely afternoon, enjoying new friends, good food, interesting sights and I actually got some photographs I didn't need to delete immediately.  I did manage to get a frantic snapshot of the field of sunflowers on the way home.  For a while, I was able to forget about the issues with the bank card, the mountain of chores waiting for me at home, the un-written blog, the un-run errands, the un-practiced piano.  A good day!

"Dead" tree is leafed out