Sete Again

After Orange we made for the Pont du Gard, the famous Roman aquaduct, which we had seen before. We got there without more than the usual navigational incident. But upon entering we found that the parking lot charge, just for sedans, was 18 euros. Who knows what it would have been for a medium-sized RV. Then the charge for looking at the thing was more. So we decided, not reluctantly, to pass. We've visited scores, perhaps hundreds, of World Heritage Sites, and, until Pont du Gard, never, ever, felt gouged. This place is a disgrace. Shame on Pont du Gard! Remove it from the List!

Later, I'll post a photo of Vicki at the Pont du Gard in 1986.

There she is; way back in the days when you could walkall over it, and free, too

We headed on, in some frustration, both with P du G and with the traffic, to a stretch of beach we have enjoyed before, west of Sete. We wanted some quiet, and I wanted to stick my foot in the Mediterranean one more time.

We first visited Sete and the great beach west of it in 1989; then again in 2010. In 1989, the beach was miles long, completely undeveloped. In 2010, there was evidence of development, some road improvement, some concrete borders, etc. In 2012, it is developed: an extension of the city's beaches, parking lots every mile or so, restaurants, bars, lifeguards, the works. But still uncrowded and still miles-long beautiful sand beach. Just before the very end, where Beach Resort World resumes, there is a parking lot open to campers and RVs, with the usual aire-minimal amenities. It was packed, but we found a spot, perhaps the last one that night. I should mention that Sete is a very interesting-looking town, a port/fishing town, founded originally by Louis14, who needed a Mediterranean port. It is now a tourist town, but still maintaining its gritty old city feel, with great-looking seafood spots. We must spend more time there, sometime.

Parked on the Mediterranean, again

But not alone this time

The beach, now developed

Ditto

Trois Digues

Water sports

Ditto

Disappointingly, the water was cold

We proceeded on, following mostly the Canal du Midi, which joins the Gironde at
Toulouse to link the Atlantic and the Mediterranean

It was a great economic and engineering project in 18th century France; now mostly
recreation and tourism