Teleri's Visit
image of TeleriTeleri's visited again since writing this, with another group of friends! She's a much welcome guest!

This is my third visit to Mounon du Nord. Why? Two reasons. Jo and Jean-Marc created two comfortable, extremely well equipped gites in the heart of Gascony. Secondly, flights from the UK - Midlands, Bristol and South Wales - are frequent and reasonable to Toulouse. And there you are, transported to the peace and tranquillity of Southern France, where the roads are quiet and the landscape is full of interest.

It's an agricultural region. Colourful and fruitful. The yellow sunflowers in high summer, upstanding facing the sun and then drooping with the weight of seed at the onset of autumn harvesting. Maize and corn, wheat and barley fields and acres of serried ranks of vines make a pleasant patchwork of changing colour through the seasons.

It's a warm landscape for motoring, cycling or rambling. I'm a cyclist, an amateur one, and the pace of life here suits me. I'm a wobbler on my bike !

I did make one sortie to an area outside Gascony, a journey of approx. 2 ½ hours (by car not bike you understand) skirting the foothills of the Pyrenees to Biarritz.

It was a brilliant sunny day in late Autumn and although the picturesque and prosperous seaside town had a 'closed for the winter' look about it, the walk along the promenade was bracing, the lunch even better. A platter of oysters, followed by a fish soup and 'tarte tatin' at "Le Bistro de l'huitre" - what better way to spend a day !

But there's so much to see and experience right here in the Gers. The medieval towns with their high, unchanging fortresses and historic squares. These are bustling meeting places on market days. And restaurants who give real value for money with good food and wine - Foie Gras and Canard, melons and a variety of fresh vegetables, the distinctive taste of Floc de Gascogne as an aperitif and of course, Armagnac.

It's still a hidden, relatively unknown part of Southern France. At the end of long, hot days, a cooling swim in Mounon's swimming pool sets you up for the evening's feasting with friends.