Barcelona, Spain  and the Languedoc-Roussillon

Chers Amis,

Early on in 2003, we realized that our 15th anniversary was coming up in September and we wanted to celebrate it in a special way.  For our 10th anniversary we brought Darwin our beagle into our lives.  We know that nothing can surpass that celebration, but  nevertheless we wanted to do something special for this milestone.

Since food and wine are passions for us, we have attempted to have a very special meal on each of our anniversaries. Chez Panisse, Boulevard and Pos Trio in the San Francisco Bay Area and Lutece in New York are some of the places we have chosen.  In 2001 we were travelling in Tuscany at the time of our celebration and we sought out one of Italy's finest restaurants- Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. 

So what do two men with a passion for food and wine do to celebrate their 15 year committment?  Why they go to the south of France and visit the largest wine making region in the world- the Languedoc-Roussillon  and also find the best restaurant in the region!

In order to get to this area, where we rented a little house in the wonderfully picturesque village of Castelnau d'Aude, we flew to Barcelona Spain and, after spending a few days in the capitol of Catalunya, we made a 3.5 hour drive through the Pyrénées and over the French boarder into the Languedoc and the Pays Cathare- an area of vinyeards, dotted with mideveal abbeys and fortresses and charming villages.  Not only is this area a treasure trove for oenophiles and gourmets, but it has a rich and fascinatring history that includes periods of Roman, Arab, Spanish, Frank and Cathar rule, but also the only area in a Christian nation to be the focus of a Crusade.

On the following pages, you will see  a selection of the many pictures that we took on our trip to Barcelona and the Languedoc, read about the history of what we saw, and read anecdotes from our trip. 

So, dear friends, uncork a fine Blanquette sit back, point and click and share in our wonderful journey.

Vos Amis,

Randy and Lee

Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Canal du Midi, La Redorte France

Castelnau d'Aude, France

Minerve, France

The Cité, Carcassonne,  France

Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí ,

Figueres, Spain