Even though we had been to the Camargue the last time that we were in Provence we thought it was well worth a second visit especially as it was so close. We set off early heading for Aigues Mortes but then we realised that the Office du Tourisme would hardly open before 10am so we changed route and headed for the more distant Les Saintes Maries de la Mer where we had happened on a Courses Camarguaises the last time. En route we discovered the very place that I was determined to revisit and was depending on the Office du Tourisme to give us directions to - the Parc Ornithologique. Last time we had loved it and this time it was even better. Last time it was in October and, while there were lots of birds and flamingos, there were fewer than now, the nesting and rearing young season.
The first thing we noticed was the huge stork nest with Mammy, Daddy and babies ensconced. Jim took lots of photos of it. It is really impressive!
They are fascinating to watch flying with their black and orangey-pink underwings. They are just like a plane landing with the undercarriage (legs) unfolding and finally skidding to a halt.
There were lots of different kinds of herons and egrets and lots of fluffy ones who were obviously very young.
Then we noticed a woman videoing something which turned out to be a muskrat like we had seen in Sommieres. It was ambling along the path seeming quite tame. Another 2 men came up and engaged her in conversation in French, saying that the English would call that a rat. I chimed in saying muskrat and he agreed with me, in English. It turned out that they were English, living in London and doing a little tour after being at some races in Cannes and Monte Carlo. They proceeded to tell everyone that in Lincolnshire people used to eat muskrat, frying it up with lots of butter and herbs - sounded delicious and worth trying but I couldn’t execute the poor thing with everyone looking on, just because we wanted a tasty supper!
Then we saw 2 horses, one white as in the Camargue white horses and the other grey/brown with an an obvious brand on it nether regions.
And then another muskrat but on the other bank so safe from my butchering notions!
It seemed more than me had dinner in mind!
And back to the storks!
I wonder what the attraction down there is!
Two of the oiseaux handicappes that have been rescued but would not survive in the wild.
We had more than 2 hours at the bird park and it was only 11am so off to Les Saintes Maries de la Mer for a coffee. There we saw that a gypsy market was on - lots of clothes, baskets, toys and gaudy jugs.
Finally we headed back to Aigues Mortes and relived our previous visit there where I had treated myself to fruits confits to take home - sadly they never made it to Ireland!
I have never had any difficulty in taking the bull by the horns!
Then we took a drive to the seaside to Point de l’Espiguette near Le Grau du Roi.
When we got back to Calvisson, Jim finally had an opportunity to take a photo of a car that has been fascinating him - it is a very old ruin of a car, totally discoloured and not likely to be lusted after. Strangely it has a lock on its steering wheel!
We finished the day off with a beer in town and then a meal, which was very nice and where I was complimented on my French, in the restaurant just down the street from us.
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