One Man Travelling...

A surprise email from my brother and his wife inviting me for Christmas resulted in an unexpected return to Spain. Searching for the best way to get there I discovered that air travel from Toulouse during the winter months was not the best option, it would appear that the French prefer to visit during the summer months. I was also interested in finding the rail route over the mountains. The train from Toulouse to Les Cabannes continues on to Latour-de-Carol where, I am told, a Spanish train bound for Barcelona departs from another set of tracks. Incidentally during the summer the narrow gauge "Yellow Train" runs through the mountains from this station too. Despite many searches I could not find a connection. In the spring a trip to the end of the line to investigate will be necessary. Meanwhile my route, all booked using the apps, Trainline.eu and OUI.sncf, will take me to Toulouse, across to Narbonne, down to Barcelona and finally to Valencia. My brother will take me too a

Where has the time gone, I hadn't realised that my last entry was in September. It is 09:30 hours on Saturday 15th December 2018. I am contemplating two musical Christmas cards sitting on the shelf in front of me as I drink my morning coffee. Purchased in November events overtook their intended use. At this moment I receive a message from friends in Spain that their family will be gathering in Madrid. Decision made, one addressed there and the other to my friends in the "Garage Club" where I lived in Bulgaria. Perhaps if I drive into Tarascon-sur-Ariége the larger post office there may be open on a Saturday morning so off I go. What a surprise, arriving down the back road from Aulos I swing right over the river bridge adorned in traditional bows, Christmas anthems to be heard as I drive. Finding a parking bay near the post office it is in deed open and the Christmas music is louder. Speakers mounted in the streets broadcast the local radio DJ to all parts of the tow