Sainte Maries De La Mer

16 July
Sainte Maries De La Mer

Travelling through a very different landscape we learned that the incredible wetlands are where the flamingoes visit in March (I think it was March). A really flat landscape with various earthy shades of browns and greens with the glimmer of low blue waters. An interesting place for an artist I would guess.

Not only this – there are a few very old fashioned and typically French fishing huts that have obviously been there for many a year. The town of Sainte Maries De La Mer summed up the drive with a old seaside fishing village style. Veggie stores, tiny little side streets and the natural colours of the aged buildings in a functioning modern town. The beach is even better. This is where we stayed for the most of the day. Just to let you know we weren't too lazy we also went for a cycle.

TIP: there is also a free camp right on the beach. It is called the Sainte Maries de La Mer Plages Est. Free camps aren't that free anymore it seems – but at 9.50 Euro's per day right alongside the beach – who can sneeze? One fall back is that it was very full and your neighbour will be very close.

Later in the early evening we drove further and stayed in an aire on the toll road. This was the first time we had done it. TIP: In France there are usually really nice aire's on the toll roads. This gets you to you next destination quicker and saves you on your campsite. They normally have toilets and fresh water. If you stop at one with a petrol station – then you potentially have use of a chemical toilet, restaurant and local produce shop. There is often a quite section for campers and caravans in the tree filled parking lot sheltered from any roadside noise. They also provide tables and chairs with an area kids or pets can cruise around. We even had a couple that used a pop up tent on the ground to kip over with their two kids. So as long as there are others using the site – it is usually quite safe.



My very beautiful and clever Nick found mussels on his snorkel at Sainte Maries de La Mer. So for dinner we enjoyed a fresh mussel pot that the goodlooking chef cooked up. He also found treasure whilst he was down there – a brand new pair of Ray Bans – for girls. Score!