St Mandrier to Sanary sur Mer

10/10/2015

We got an early start this morning, and motored out right into weekend traffic, driving into the sun made it tricky to see the other boaters, so it was a relief to 'turn a corner' and follow the coastline. Although the weather has cooled off, it was a gorgeous day, clear blue skies and just the sort of flat calm J loves, with not a breath of wind.

Roxy taking on the role of look out!

Having rung ahead, we went straight to our berth right in the town centre, and moored easily with the help of a neighbour, whilst being grilled incessantly by a passerby who was incredibly knowlegeable about trawler yachts, but to whom the C-Kip was a new sighting.

Although we stepped off out quay and right into town, the same couldnot be said for the capitainerie and sanitaires,which were a good stroll away, although once there we got a full batch of town info for tourists, and (empty) sweet tins with info about an underwater trail, which turned out to be closed out of season.

Sanary-sur-Mer takes its fishing fleet seriously, and each of the working fishing boats has its own stall on the quay to sell their catch, as well as supplying the local restaurants, where a delicious 'plat du jour' featured prawns, red mullet and swordfish.

 

Yum!

They also love their heritage collection of 'pointu' boats, with the oldest featuring details of their launch dates, construction, restauration and ownership.

1958 Lou Pelican

The food market was in situ on both days, and we did a full stock up of fruit and veg at excellent market prices - no rounding down the centimes here because you are getting a good deal.

Every lamp post and available bit of wall space throughout town featured a picture from a protrait expo featuring 1000 pieces by 300 photographers of many nationalities (but for which cannot be included a useful link as sadly Sanary-sur-Mer's website needs some serious attention).

The old town has boutiques of all shapes and sizes, with many artist caves, and all imaginable provençal produce, and was open and thriving as we strolled through - although this is another town without a blade of grass to be found for the hound. Interesting glitch - the town/church clock strikes on every hour between 8am and 10 pm, twice!