Angela and Roland's European Adventure: Thursday 17th November

SAINTES MARIES DE LA MER

It’s the 17th November, the sun is shinning, the sky is blue and the temperature in Saintes Maire de la Mer is 24 degrees. It isn’t difficult to see what attracts so many English people to settle in this part of the world.

We had a lovely drive down, watching the colours of the landscape change from the reds and oranges of the Congenies grape vines into the greens and heather hues of the marshes and reed beds of the Camargue. You could be forgiven for thinking you’re in Spain in this town as there are so many Spanish influences, from the dusty streets of cream buildings to the bull fighting arena.

                     Sculptures on the roundabout                                   Carousel with age range limited from 0 to 90 years



                                                                                         Along the harbour



                                                                                               Along the beach

The town is named after it’s famous church dedicated to the Saints Mary of the Sea (Saint Mary Jacobea and Mary Salome). It is a site of pilgrimage because it is said that the Christian message was first heard in France, here in AD45. The Sanctuary Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer is also a pilgrimage site for gypsies who have taken Saint Sara, the servant of the two Mary’s, as their patron Saint. Gypsies come from all over Europe for a special pilgrimage and celebration every 24/25th May. There is wooden statue of Saint Sara in the church that is decked out in layer upon layer of gaudy silks and lace.

Statue of Saint Sara, Patron Saint of Gypsies and depiction of the two Saint Mary’s, both in the Sanctuary Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer

The Sanctuary Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer, one of the many buildings more reminiscent of Spain than France

Having spent a very pleasant morning wandering around the town, we stopped at a beach front restaurant for a leisurely lunch in the sunshine before heading off to see the flamingos in the National Park.

PARC ORNITHOLOGIQUE DU PONT DE GAU

The Camargue National Park is famous for its white horses, miniature black bulls and flamingos so we headed off to the Parc Ornithologique and spent the afternoon walking in the sun and taking in the sights. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any bulls, but the horses and flamingos were wonderful.