News from Caussi.com

Barcelona and Caussi - Perfect Yin and Yang

2011-10-25T17:56:48-04:00

Hi Susan- we are at JFK, waiting for our last flight home from Caussi and Barcelona and I wanted to tell you what a wonderful week we had at your charming and cozy home in Caussi. It was a perfect time with lots of wine, good food, most of which we prepared ourselves, incredible views, many of which Sam painted, trips to Roquebrun, Fos, Pezenas, Bedarieux, a great hike up Mt. Caroux, and much more.

We spent all day Saturday in Pezenas and appreciated the extra day at your house which allowed us to enjoy the day there at the market. Then, yesterday, we left for Collioure, which was awe-inspiring both in its magnificent coastline and castles, and the fact that we were seeing the same views that Matisse, Picasso and others painted.

We loved Barcelona as well, and with our trip to Caussi, it was the perfect combination of yin and yang.

I wanted to mention the restaurant , O Bontemps, that we really loved in Magalas. It was very contemporary French, in an attractive, minimalist, modern room. The food was lovely, the owner spoke English, but what made it really work for us was that he was willing and able to accommodate my husband's dietary issues, and we both enjoyed a wonderful meal.

So, again, thank you for sharing your fairy tale village with us. It was a vacation we will always remember.

All the best,

Bonnie and Sam (Oct 2011)

Languedoc Beach Lovers Visit Caussi - September 2011

2011-10-23T12:38:40-04:00

Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your Caussi house during our trip to Languedoc in Sept 2011. The house had everything we needed and we really enjoyed the view from the roof-top Terrace; we spent most of our afternoons up there after returning from our daily excursions!

As far as tips for future visitors, I will summarize our adventures categorically and hopefully there will be some nuggets there!

Beaches/Plages (we are beach lovers so that was foremost on our list of places to visit)

L'Espiguette - beautiful beach outside of Montpellier near Le Grau du Roi - one of our favorites - 1.5 hrs from Caussi - very remote - bring chairs umbrellas & cooler as there are no services - 5.5 euros to enter & park - long drive but well worth it!

Leucate - great beach between Narbonne & Perpignan - 1 hour from Caussi - bring chairs umbrellas - there are restaurants nearby for lunch - parking is plentiful and inexpensive (there was no charge for parking this Sept - last July there were meters and for a few euros you could park all day) - NOTE: nearby is the African Preserve near Sigean - opens at 9AM - great for a couple of hours before the beach - a little pricey @ 27 euros per person but lots of animals - rated as one of the best preserves in the world - 1 hour in car driving thru and up to 3 hours on foot if you so desire (We drove first and then walked for only 45 mins - time for the beach!!)

Portiranges - the closest beach at 30 mins from Caussi and the one we spent the most time at (3 visits) - You can bring your chairs etc. but you can also rent chairs + umbrella from the Maui Plage station (rents pedaloes, boards & other water sports) at west end of beach - ample free parking - very busy in season - it was nice and empty in Sept.

Argeles (North) - beach outside of Perpignan - 1.75 hrs from Caussi - go to north end of beach as the middle & south are a bit tacky with dozens of beach shops & numerous restaurants - lots of free parking at north end - only a few minutes from here to Colliure (very crowded around lunchtime - go early if you want to park and eat) & Banyul sur Mer (where we had lunch at a nice small sidewalk cafe)

Touring (we picked the cloudy days to tour - there weren't too many!!)

Avignon - went there to visit a few shops Diane had in mind - interesting city - lots of traffic (cars & people). Took the opportunity while there to visit Tavel (15 km away) and pick up some great Rose Wine to bring back to Caussi (we consider Tavel roses to be among the tastiest in all of France - at least the France we've experienced so far - Provence & Languedoc) to sip on the terrace in late afternoon.

Roquebrun - we visited twice; once via D908/D14 route and another times via opposite direction of backroads from Caussi - loved the river and had a great lunch at the Auberge St. Hubert (the Cafe Nice was too crowded for our taste)

Great scenic drive - From Olargues D14 up the mountain to D53 towards Cambron (?) and then back towards Belarieux - beautiful dark pine forests, herds of horses and great mountain views. 2-2.5 hours leisurely drive.

Restaurants ( I don't think we spent over 75 euros for any meal [2 persons] - including tip & wine - most were around 35-50 euros)

Karting Course Restaurant (in Caussi) - has a great lunch there on our first day - meant to get back for dinner but did not make it

La Forge in Bedarieux - beautiful place - good food - ate outside - next time will eat inside for the interior views

La Cave Gourmande in Montagnac (between Pezenas & Meze) - we found this place last July and was glad to see that it is still there and still as good - Italian fare - great lasagne - Open Sun & Mon so thats a plus (most restaurants closed those days) - 45 minute ride from Caussi but worth it (D13 most of the way from faugeres to Pezenas) - center of town at 2nd traffic light - left-side of road going to Meze

Hana Sushi in Pezenas - good sushi but a limited selection - great energetic staff

O Bontemps in Magalas - made a reservation - on arrival found closed until mid-Sept - confused as to why they took rez?!?!? - anyway we found a little Mom & Pop just down the hill from O Bontemps and had a delightful meal & lots of fun with owners - went back for a second meal on our last night - can't remember name but have pictures of resaturant with name - great pizzas among other things!

La Bella Vista in Faugeres - closed the first weekend we were there - finally ate there on a Sunday - good simple food & wine - nice people

Meze - can't remember name but ate at same place twice last year - busiest place in the harbor - good crowd = good food - had oysters, mussels, shrimp etc. etc. - it was nice to be back there - approx 1 hr from Caussi

Le Baroulet in Roujan - beautiful setting in hotel courtyard - food was OK but not great - atmosphere made up for it!

Chez Caussi - we grilled a nice steak on the Weber grill one evening when we did not feel like going out!!! Priceless

All in all it was a great trip. We had beautiful weather. The village of Caussi was charming. It was so quiet, that, if not for the occassional bird chirping or insect buzzing, you might think you'd gone deaf! Talk about great sleeping! I was able to use the cable for the DSL line to call home via Skype so that was very helpful. Made great use of your juicer - fresh OJ every morning! Thanks so much for your hospitality.

By the way, you are now the owner of 2 new beach chairs, a new beach umbrella & a new cooler which we found convenient to buy while we were there - hope new visitors use them well!

Tim and Diane

The annual Caussi village fete - end of August

2011-04-09T15:22:45-04:00

Susan,

Many thanks for a great holiday – we’re missing your charming house already, and you have more Caussi fans in Wales !

All worked well with Clare and Gilbert (such a nice fella), and your extensive notes proved an ideal foundation.

We were lucky to arrive on the weekend of the Fete De Caussi (I believe the last weekend in August each year), when the village, neighbouring villagers and people of Caussi origins gather for three nights of partying, each night tailored to a slightly different age group. We were made to feel very welcome and played a full singing and dancing part in festivities.

Other highlights, apart from the delights of your terrace, were Pezenas, particularly the all day Saturday market, and a lovely little restaurant in the old town called Le Poisson Verre. The village of Olargues, beyong Lamalou Les Bains was also a gem, with a great little gift shop (new crafts and antiques) in the centre, and a laid back, and free folk museum telling a really interesting regional story (check out the chestnut crushing shoes!)

With two teenagers in the family, Roquebrun was ideal for swimming, messing about in your inflatables, and kayaking, and Aqualand, on the Cap D’Agde was expensive (25 euros for adults) but actually good value for middle aged daredevils!!

And an update on swimming pools - the municipal in Lamalou is really good (and inexpensive), with a grass picnic area.

And of course, there’s the wine. We tried most of the Faugeres, and didn’t discover a dud, and Vieux Cantal cheese, and a sheep’s milk blue from Malzieu were perfect accompaniments on the terrace.

We’d love to repeat the experience at some time in the future, thanks again.

Tim

From Kathleen Collins - Summer 2010

2011-01-01T12:33:37-05:00

We are back from France and it was incredibly difficult to leave Caussi. We are completely and utterly in love with the village and the region and very much look forward to going back. Your house is just ideal. We went to many villages in our two weeks and we couldn't believe our luck in landing in Caussi. No other place compares. It's so peaceful and beautiful.

The train ride from Paris to Montpellier was one of the most glorious visual images I've ever experienced. I was riveted. It's amazing how it's ALL farmland the entire way - the rolling green hills, hay bales in the fields, cows, villages in the distance.

We loved the hiking trail up and behind the village - amazing views of Caussi and the valley below within minutes. And the Bedarieux market, driving along route 908 and down the Orb. The beauty is stunning everywhere.

We hardly ate at restaurants at all! Mostly just cooked with provisions from the markets and the Caussi meat man (Note from Susan: Caussi market van schedule). We did have a great meal in Collioure. I never knew anchovies could be so delicious.

And one night in Caussi there was a moules and boule fete. Just unlimited platters of moules and vin - incredible! (Note from Susan: Every Wednesday night during the summer there's a village fete in Caussi with grilled mussels and games of boules for both adults and children...)

On our very last day we discovered the Meze beach -- our favorite. Cool water in the Etang and a nice calm, quiet beach. It was a nice lasting impression. My head and heart are far from NYC right now!

Sete - Fishing Port Near Caussi

2010-12-31T17:22:04-05:00

In our experience, Sete, an old fashioned colorful harbor town laced with canals with lots of great seafood restaurants lining the docks either enchants or appalls—we suspect it depends on the time of year and the crowds. Described as “gritty, salty, workaday,” Sete is France’s biggest Mediterranean port (after Marseilles). We enjoyed our lunch there on a spring weekend. Visit the Musee Paul Valery (open daily ex Tuesday, 10 to 12, 2 to 6) It’s also worth going to the top of the Mont. St. Clair as there is a beautiful picnic area and great views of the coast.

Here's what the Nell Haley wrote about Sete after her family's recent visit:

Just a little story: on our last Sunday, we had decided to go explore Sete. From the moment we entered Sete, we knew we'd not get any further that day, we loved the town and the "scene" (as I call it) so much that we wanted to immerse ourselves in it (a port town always presents us midwesterners an exotic quality which maybe New Yorkers wouldn't feel) for the entire day. Just before coming home we went up to the cemetery, since the Green Guide had mentioned Paul Valery's being buried there and wondered what it looked like. Well, we'd forgotten it was Toussaint, and we landed in the middle of an amazing grouping of people--some there as curious tourists, some as families come to tend family graves. It was very moving, and a very appropriate toussaint activity, totally unplanned.

Best Kids Activities in Languedoc

2010-10-19T21:53:07-04:00

Here are the nominations (including zoos, a dinosaur museum, swimming, water parks, and more from the popular sites Go Languedoc and Creme de Languedoc. Would love to hear your suggestions!

Les Palmiers restaurant, Pezenas

2010-10-19T21:36:57-04:00

Les Palmiers restaurant in Pezenas, Languedoc is probably one of the best mid-priced restaurants in Pezenas. The restaurant is set in an open-air courtyard in the heart of the old windy streets of Pezenas' historic quarter. You literally dine out under the stars, beneath 3 huge cream canopies strung in between the two adjoining properties.

The restaurant is set on 2 different levels - the higher terrace being very popular in Summer. From mid-May through to September, it is probably one of the best places to eat in the hot South of France evenings. There is of course the obligatory Palm tree inside. What is most imperssive however is the kitchen is open on view to all.

The menu changes daily and is displayed on a big blackboard that is brought to your table. The food is simple and uncomplicated, but extremely well prepared. Les Palmiers restaurant, 10 bis rue Mercière, Pézenas, Languedoc. Tel: 04 67 09 42 56. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Maps and Guide books for Caussi

2010-10-06T00:58:53-04:00

In the house in Caussi is a basket filled with maps, maps, maps.....many of them vintage.....probably all that you'll need for your stay. Walking maps, city maps, etc.

But if you'd like to be certain of having the right maps and their most recent versions and even want to study up a bit before departure, here are the maps and guides that I recommend:

1 For the "big picture" Michelin Regional Map 526 (Languedoc/Roussilon) covers all the major roads and cities.....Order from amazon.com

2. For getting around the Faugeres region from village and village around Caussi, up into the mountains and so forth, Michelin Local Map 339 Gard Herault 1/200,000 is fabulous. You'll find your way on that beautiful back road from Faugeres to Pezenas, past several vineyards and a castle without problem, for example. Or see exactly how to climb up to Douch to start the walk to Mt. Caroux.

Order from: www.maptown.com

3. And, of course, the Michelin Green Guide to Languedoc-Rousillon gives you details on all the sites, castles, cities, and background information about the region.

Using credit cards while in Caussi

2010-10-02T14:04:02-04:00

We've never had a problem with our credit card or ATM card in Languedoc (although it is best to know your card's PIN number as that is widely requested in Europe). But here's the New York Times' Practical Traveller on the topic (next to a beautiful street scene taken in Caussi this summer by Kathleen Collins!).

August 24, 2010

Advice on Using Credit Cards While Traveling Abroad

By SUSAN STELLIN

I WAS driving to the Los Angeles airport in April when apparently I did something suspicious: I stopped at a gas station and filled up the tank.

By the time I returned the rental car and got to my gate, I had a fraud alert message from my credit card company, U.S. Bank. Since I don’t own a car and rarely buy gas, it seems that $13 fill-up raised a red flag.

Such is the state of credit card security, a continuing battle between card issuers and criminals who steal account numbers, with consumers caught in the fray. Whether travelers are more likely to become victims of credit card fraud is debatable, but we’re certainly more likely to get tripped up by efforts to combat fraud, especially overseas.

Here are some things to watch out for if you plan on paying with plastic, which isn’t quite as widely accepted as the ad campaigns for credit cards would have you believe.

Avoiding a Freeze on Your Account

Most travelers know it’s a good idea to call your credit card company before a trip to a foreign country, so your purchases in Bangkok or Barcelona don’t trigger a freeze on your account. Banks rely on antifraud software that monitors customers’ spending patterns, which means that any time you stray from your usual habits — like buying groceries in another state instead of at a store in your home ZIP code — your bank might become concerned.

I was surprised that a cheap gas purchase in California could also freeze my account, so I called U.S. Bank to find out if travelers need to start alerting their banks about their domestic travels, which seemed like overkill to me.

It probably is, said Dave Leiker, a senior vice president with U.S. Bank. He told me that besides watching for unusual spending patterns, banks also monitor where criminals use stolen cards, places like automated payment kiosks in metropolitan areas.

“We may have been seeing a trend where the bad guys were out there using stolen credit cards at gas pumps,” he said.

That would explain why I didn’t get a fraud call when I bought gas more recently in rural Pennsylvania. But it also reinforces an important point about traveling with plastic: carry more than one card, in case one is declined.

Overseas, it can be much more of a hassle to unfreeze a card, especially if you don’t have a cellphone with international service.

Rejection of Cards Abroad

For globe-trotting travelers, another issue is that many countries in Europe, as well as Japan, Canada, Mexico and other nations, have adopted a type of credit card that has a chip and requires customers to enter a PIN instead of the ones with a magnetic stripe on the back that we still use in the United States.

Merchants that accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express are supposed to let customers pay with either type of card. But employees at some retailers outside the United States don’t always know what to do with the magnetic version.

There are also automated kiosks that accept only the “chip and PIN” cards, particularly in European train stations, parking garages, gas stations and some tollbooths. In those cases, Americans with magnetic stripe cards usually have to wait in line to pay with cash or have a clerk swipe their cards. Travelers say those lines can be long, which is especially frustrating if you’re trying to catch a train. And at unattended tollbooths, you may get stuck if you don’t have coins you can pay with instead.

So how common is this problem? In a study last September, the research company Aite Group found that nearly half of American cardholders who have traveled abroad in the past few years have had some problem using a debit or credit card, and 16 percent said their card was rejected because of this issue with magnetic stripe acceptance overseas.

“I think many cardholders assume when they travel abroad that it is much like being in the United States,” said Ron Shevlin, a senior analyst with Aite Group, pointing out that in addition to the chip versus magnetic stripe problem, merchants in other parts of the world often have higher minimum-purchase requirements to use a credit card or simply don’t accept the cards because they don’t want to pay the fees that card companies charge retailers.

He also suggested checking your credit limit before a trip, since banks have reduced credit limits for some cardholders; travel expenses can push up against those maximums.

Chip Cards in the United States?

As for whether banks plan to offer chip and PIN credit cards to their American customers, Mr. Shevlin said the cost of issuing new cards is a hurdle, especially given the banking industry’s other financial challenges.

“It should be more of a concern among card issuers than it is,” he said. “But I would not expect to see a lot of movement before the end of 2011.”

There is one financial institution that is moving more quickly: the United Nations Federal Credit Union, which plans to offer its members credit cards with both a magnetic stripe and a chip beginning in October.

Merrill Halpern, card services manager for the credit union, said that with Canada and Mexico now embracing chip and PIN cards, along with Europe and many other parts of the world, it was time to make the switch. Another motivation is that the chip and PIN cards are more secure because there is a unique key encrypted in every card, whereas magnetic stripe cards are relatively easy to clone — that is, to steal the data and copy it onto another card.

“It’s going to save us money on fraud losses,” Mr. Halpern said. “The trend seems to be that more fraud is coming to the U.S. because we’re the one last holdout in magnetic stripe cards.”

Despite that concern, the major credit card companies do not have imminent plans to offer chip and PIN cards to their American customers, even though they provide them to cardholders abroad. When I asked about this topic, representatives from Visa and MasterCard e-mailed me statements saying they’re working with issuers to evaluate the feasibility of offering cards with the chip technology to customers who travel internationally.

Desiree Fish, a spokeswoman for American Express, said the company doesn’t plan to add the chip technology to cards issued in the United States at this time. But she emphasized that customers should be able to use their magnetic stripe cards abroad, even if a clerk tells them they cannot.

“A card member can insist that, yes, in fact, they can swipe the card,” Ms. Fish said.

Of course, communicating with store employees who may not speak English isn’t always easy, which is why carrying plenty of cash is a good backup, especially in rural areas and developing countries.

American Express, Visa and MasterCard also suggested that customers report any trouble they have using a magnetic stripe card abroad. Taking the time to make that call may help pressure the industry to come up with a solution for this problem.

Renting a car for your Caussi trip

2010-10-02T13:49:52-04:00

We always reserve from the US, using the europacar web site, and have picked up cars for our Caussi trips in Barcelona or in Montpellier. I think that Beziers maybe a pick up option as well. We've dropped off in Aix en Provence (at the TGV station where we took the train to Pair), at Beziers or Montpellier, and in Spain as well. Never a problem (other than that one fateful encounter with a cement post in a Barcelona underground parking garage that took out the side of the rented car...see article below with help on that!)

See helpful tips in the article below from The New York Times (August 10)

When Renting Cars Abroad, It’s Renter Beware

By SUSAN SPANO

I ONCE rented a car at an agency in a garage under the Villa Borghese in Rome. The parking structure was tight and poorly lighted, and before I even exited I put a dent in the vehicle, thanks to a low concrete barrier I couldn’t see in the rearview mirror.

I’m a careful driver at home with a clean record. But renting abroad poses special challenges, as well as the risk of unintended encounters with foreign objects, which in my case have included an ill-placed guardrail at a tollbooth in Switzerland, a milk truck in Jamaica and hedgerows all over England.

Eventually I decided that dings, dents and scrapes are an almost inevitable consequence of driving in unfamiliar territory, and I resigned myself to buying comprehensive accident protection from rental car agencies. When I travel abroad, I routinely take out a collision damage waiver (which generally covers damage to the rental car, theft, towing and loss-of-use expenses incurred by the company while the vehicle is being repaired), and liability (for injury to people and damage to property outside the rental). These two plans alone can cost up to $30 a day, but allow me to drive away knowing that, whatever happens, I’m covered.

Are You Covered?

People who refuse rental car agency protection plans might call me a sucker. Many of them think that peddling insurance is a deep profit center for big rental companies, most of which have their own repair shops and sometimes don’t bother to fix dents and dings. (For this reason, inspect a vehicle before you take it off the lot to avoid being charged for pre-existing damages.)

Others assume they have adequate coverage through policies that insure their cars at home and generally extend to rentals in the United States. But personal auto insurance from most companies, including Allstate and Travelers, rarely applies to vehicles rented abroad.

However, other kinds of insurance can come into play. Some health and home policies may help cover injuries and theft. Those who take out trip insurance are likely to be covered for damage to rental cars abroad, according to Vikki Corliss, a spokeswoman for insuremytrip.com, a travel insurance aggregator. And many credit cards (but not debit cards) provide auto insurance that extends to rentals abroad at no extra cost, though according to Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and research for creditcards.com, an online catalog of credit card offers, only 10 percent of cardholders are aware of the benefit.

MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express generally offer collision damage waivers for foreign and domestic rentals, but the coverage is a patchwork, with myriad exclusions and claim requirements that vary from card to card. “It is incumbent on consumers to find out exactly what is covered by calling the toll-free number on the back of the card,” Mr. Woolsey said.

In most cases, the rental must be booked and paid for using the card. Vans, expensive or exotic cars and long-term rentals are usually excluded. Claims stemming from accidents in which the renter has been cited for speeding or drunken driving are rejected. Moreover, the plans are inoperative in certain countries because of statutory issues and difficult driving conditions; Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica and Mexico often make the list.

Card coverage tends to be secondary, meaning that if the renter has any other applicable insurance it must be tapped first to pay for damages, with the card picking up deductibles and extras like towing. One exception to this is Premium Car Rental Protection, available only to American Express cardholders, which provides primary insurance with no deductibles for a flat $24.95 per rental of any length.

Drivers who have no other form of insurance must pay for repairs out of pocket and then file a claim for reimbursement with the credit card company. The procedure is not onerous, but the time limit for generating a claim is strictly enforced.

Imad Khalidi, chief executive of Auto Europe, a rental car consolidator based in Portland, Me., says people who hope to use a credit card plan to cover the cost of an accident abroad must call the card company immediately and do exactly as instructed. Paperwork from the rental company will most likely be required; police reports are necessary only in the event of major accidents.

Mr. Khalidi recently discovered another useful tool for expediting claims: the photo function of his BlackBerry. Three months ago, when his rental car was rear-ended near Avignon, France, he took pictures of the accident scene, the damage and the license plate of the vehicle that hit him, which the rental company was glad to have when he returned the bashed-up car.

“How Protected Are You?“ (at hertz.com) is a resource for understanding the ins and outs of rental insurance. At the very least, travelers should make sure they know precisely what coverage they have before landing at a rental car counter in Palermo or Puerto Vallarta and trying to communicate with a clerk whose English language skills may be shallow.

Local Conditions

Beyond that, it behooves travelers to seek information on driving rules and road conditions in the countries they plan to visit. “We Americans drive roads that are very forgiving, but there are places without shoulders and guardrails where rules differ from those at home,” said Rochelle Sobel, president of the Association for Safe International Road Travel, a nonprofit based in Potomac, Md. The organization’s Web site, asirt.org, has driving reports for 160 countries.

It’s all too easy to underestimate the differences between driving at home and abroad, especially if you fly to a place, rent a car at the airport and then hit the road. Suddenly you may be confronted with a perilously short highway entrance ramp, or — surprise, surprise — the fact that you’ve rented a vehicle with a manual transmission.

“Don’t assume that the vehicle you rent will have an automatic transmission, air-conditioning, power brakes and windows,” said Neil Abrams, founder of the car rental industry consulting company Abrams Consulting Group. “When renting abroad you must request these thing specifically.”

In general, it helps to rent a car as similar as possible to the one you drive at home so you can venture with confidence into a new country — and the occasional hedgerow.

The Intermarche in Magalas - closest big grocery store

2010-07-25T09:48:22-04:00

Although we mostly shop in the open air markets in the villages around Caussi and take advantage of the much bigger weekly markets in Bedarieux and Pezenas for fresh fruits, vegetables, poulet roti, cheeses, and all manner of patisserie, we count on the Intermarche in Magalas, 10 minutes away, down route 909, past the vineyards for all sort of basic supplies (drinks,paper supplies, yogurt, breakfast cereal, etc.).

And this being France, this local super market has a fishmonger in full high boots manning a fish store with fresh oysters, fish, and shellfish of the region. And lots of local fruits and vegetables and wines from nearby. Eating local is a way of life in France!

Here's a link to the Magalas Intermarche for specials, sales etc. etc.

The store hours are:

Monday through Thursday: 9 am to 12: 15 pm. 2:30 to 7:30 pm

Friday and Saturday: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm

Sunday: Closed

It definitely takes a bit of getting used to mid-day closings. Nothing to do but just go enjoy a lovely lunch until the store opens for the afternoon.

Cessanon - Loved Restaurant de l'Orb

2010-03-03T09:34:52-05:00

Restaurant Recommendation from Jowa and Matthew (summer 09):

On our last night in Caussi we had a nice meal in Cessenon sur Orb, a charming medieval town overlooking the Orb River (not far from Roquebrun) at the Restaurant de l'Orb: good food and great location for the kids as it was on the central plaza so the kids played hide n seek between the parked cars.

Here's a review of the Restaurant de l'Orb (see the resaurant's web site for hours and the current menu):

A must visit if you want a fabulous evening of proper French and international cuisine with the chef's own English twist is dinner at Restaurant de l'Orb The cooking is totally innovative using fresh and even home grown produce even gathering herbs straight from the local hillsides. The service is very friendly with French and English spoken. A lovely atmosphere at very reasonable rates.

The Canal du Midi - Pride of Beziers

2010-02-28T12:03:52-05:00

One of the region’s two remarkable UNESCO ‘World Heritage Sites’ the Canal du Midi drifts lazily through Languedoc on its spectacular route from the city of Toulouse to the bustling coastal port of Sete. Uniquely beautiful, with tow-paths famously lined and shaded by 300-year-old plane trees it meanders gently between the pretty, terracotta-topped, canal-side villages.

Inspirational in both concept and construction, the 240 kilometre-long canal connects with the River Garonne to link the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean: thereby avoiding the lengthy and one-time perilous, pirate-plagued sea journey around the hostile Spanish coastline.

Although the advantages of such a route had been contemplated for at least 150 years before its inception (even Leonardo Da Vinci had pondered the possibilities), it was in the mid-seventeenth century that the multitude of technical challenges and obstacles were finally overcome. In 1666 Pierre-Paul Riquet of Beziers persuaded King Louis XIV to commission the project: and so, work commenced. The costs were projected at 3,360 livres.

The construction of the canal was unquestionably an epic and ingenious achievement, incorporating remarkable feats of civil engineering - including 103 locks - and utilising over 12000 labourers. The canal officially opened in 1681: sadly the event was preceded by the unfortunate demise of Monsieur Riquet, who died in 1680. The entrepreneur was massively in debt to the tune of 2m livres, most of which he had invested in the completion of his wondrous waterway. The final cost now totalled some 15m livres! His family inherited his interests in the project: they must have been delighted - investments were never recovered and debts remained for a further 100 years before they were finally paid off.

The "Market" Van Schedule for Caussi

2010-02-26T14:29:00-05:00

A long-time tradition in the villages of France, Caussi has its own deliveries of bakery items, fruit and vegetables, shellfish, pizza and even a visiting hairdresser! Quite something for a village surrounded by beautiful market towns in all directions.

Here's the schedule:

Bakery Van: Bread delivered everyday except Mondays - Christine arrives in the village at about 10:30am and makes various stops, selling bread, eggs, croissants; pain au chocolat and pastries.

Grocery Vans:
Meat Van arrives every Wednesday between 11:00 - 11:30 am and is found in the car parking area opposite the Mairie, The fresh fruit and vegetable man is also there at the same time.

Pizza Van:
Takeway Pasta and Pizza van every Thursday by the Tennis Court from 18:00

Seafood and Shellfish: The Coquillages man every Friday from 17:45 - 18:45 in the car parking opposite the Mairie - To pre Order Tel Mr Charles Mateo 0679 60 04 48

Money Saving Tips for French Travellers

2010-02-24T16:24:26-05:00

From FRANCE on Your Own Newsletter (Sign up -- it's a great source of free information about France):

There are hidden credit card fees and money-saving tips that every traveler should know about before boarding a plane for a foreign destination. If you plan ahead, you will save yourself money, time and aggravation.

the most important phone call you may make before departure is to your credit card issuer. Ask them what coverage you have if you use the card to rent a car. If you will have full coverage, do not take the rental agency insurance. It could cost you as much as the car rental fee itself, and if you take the agency insurance, your credit card insurance will be invalid.
and, tell the person at the credit card company that you will be out of the country, what countries you will visit and the dates of departure and return so they will not put a hold on your card believing it was stolen.
check with your homeowner's insurance carrier to find out what they cover when you are traveling. Some policies cover your personal belongings no matter where they were when they were stolen. Your car insurance will most likely not cover such occurrences.
rent your car from home either by phone or online. Get a written confirmation sent to you while you are still home. Take it with you to the rental counter when you pick up your car to be sure you and the agent know the agreed upon price. Be sure to initial and/or sign the rental agreement noting that you will not take their insurance if your credit card covers you.
most credit card issuers (banks) tack on fees when you use your card internationally. These can go as high as 4% of each purchase, and you receive nothing in return. These are in addition to the currency conversion fees. There is a 2% or 3% fee for the privilege of using your card overseas, and there is another 1% charged by both VISA and MasterCard added to that. If you are away for several weeks or longer, you will come home to a credit card statement quite a bit higher than you expected.
Capital One does not charge any fees for using your card in a foreign country, and they absorb the 1% VISA and MasterCard fees as well. Charles Schwab Bank offers a VISA card with no transaction fees and puts 2% into a brokerage account for you. These cards are very much worth considering before you travel.
Capital One has no annual renewal fee, you earn a mile for every dollar spent, the miles have no blackout dates or seat restrictions, and you earn 2 miles for each dollar spent if your monthly balance is over $1000. There is no limit to miles you can earn, and they don't expire. New accounts are now being offered 0% APR until January 2011 according to the CardRatings.com web site. For more information on the Charles Schwab Bank VISA card visit Bankrate.com.
using ATM machines for cash advances also generate fees for 'borrowing' the money on a credit card, and a foreign exchange fee on either a debit or credit card. However, this is the least expensive way to get cash advances. Avoid change kiosks and exchanging money at airports!
using ATM machines for cash advances requires a pin number for both credit and debit cards. Note that you cannot use either of those cards in an ATM machine in Europe if your pin number is longer than 4 digits.
some card issuers also charge you a fee if you make a purchase from home from a web site that uses a foreign bank. When purchasing rail tickets, for example, we suggest you use the Rail Europe web site in your home country. In the US it is http://www.raileurope.com. From there you can find the web links to Rail Europe sites in Australia, New Zealand and other countries. You will pay for your tickets in your native currency, and tickets can be sent to you at home before your departure.
take some euros to France, if only to have enough money on hand for your first day or two for the taxi from the airport, a quick trip to the local grocer or for a cup of coffee at a brasserie on your first day in Paris, for example. Hold onto some euros at the end of one trip to take with you on your next visit. Not everyone accepts credit cards. This is common in the countryside at bed and breakfasts, for example; find out in advance so you are prepared with enough euros on hand. Travelers checks are not always welcomed, and, personally, we haven't seen anyone using those in a long time, although they probably are.
always purchase Trip Cancellation and Medical Evacuation insurance! It is inexpensive and probably the best investment you will make before traveling. Most policies cover lost luggage and expenses involved in delayed flights as well. All the major travel insurance companies have web sites where you can compare the coverage and prices of different policies online.

We hope this information has been useful, and we suggest you do your own research on the credit cards you plan to take to France on your next trip. [Our apologies to readers outside the US for whom some of this information does not necessarily apply. We have no interest, financial or otherwise, in the credit cards suggested above nor with Rail Europe.]

The Intermarche in Magalas - closest big grocery store

2010-02-24T00:41:08-05:00

Here's a link to the Magalas Intermarche for specials, sales etc. etc.

The store hours are:

Monday through Thursday: 9 am to 12: 15 pm. 2:30 to 7:30 pm

Friday and Saturday: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm

Sunday: Closed

It definitely takes a bit of getting used to mid-day closings. Nothing to do but just go enjoy a lovely lunch until the store opens for the afternoon.

Rental Rates for 2012

2010-02-20T12:19:52-05:00

Rentals are Saturday to Saturday, with a minimum one-week stay.

Rates: April through November: $950/week;

December through March: $695/week

The rental fee includes all linens, towels, cooking supplies, internet, and local phone use.

There is a cleaning fee of $75/week (additional cleaning available at 12 euros/hour on request).

And a security deposit of $75 per week, refundable 90 days after rental.)

For stays of more than a week, we offer a 10% discount.

Contact Susan via email (susan at caussi dot com) or telephone: 646 552 8661. I"m always happy to discuss the house, the village, the region!

Our Holiday in Languedoc - July 2009

2010-02-01T23:33:33-05:00

Susan, we've done nothing but rave about our stay to all our friends - I fear we are becoming boring!! We loved the house, the village, the area - everything. Your info was great, and helped us get the most from our week. Our kids favoured River swimming at Roquebrun and Serignan Plage "best days ever in my life" to quote Megan, my 10 year old!!

We travelled down to Avignon by Eurostar, then picked up a hire car,which worked well all in all. On the Wednesday evening we wandered down to the village Petanque square to watch the village competition, and Megan ended up meeting a new friend and taking part in a kids team, getting through to the semi-finals.... what an amazing holiday experience. We met Bob and Tanya, two British people who have had a house in Caussi for 20 years, and via the Welsh connection, were invited to dinner with them on our last evening... lovely. A week just wasn't long enough!

Swimming in Languedoc - July 2009

2010-01-10T00:08:09-05:00

Hi Susan:

We had a great time again this year of course! We pretty much spent our week swimming at the river beach at Roquebrun (which our friends loved), the Mediterranean beaches and, we did
venture to the Gorge d'Heric. Already looking forward to next year in Caussi!.

Fall in Caussi is beauiful - the Haley family November 2009

2010-01-09T23:44:14-05:00

We arrived home two days ago, and this is just to tell you how much we loved our stay in Caussi. That was definitely the best part of our trip in all ways.

We loved your house, your neighbors, the town, the view from the balcony (I ran up every opportunity just to check things out, to see how the play of colors and light across the vineyards and stands of cypress and olives had changed since my last sighting), the various outings near and not-so-near from "home", everything. Here's a view from the bedroom window (photo above). We loved that room--when we woke up in the morning we'd feel the sun coming in and watch the way the light played across the curtains before pulling the curtains open to see what the day would bring. It was always new and exciting.

Oh yes, there was Halloween, an absolutely great evening with all the children gathering in their costumes and then going around from house to house en masse. My husband, who usually keeps a very low profile on trick or treat night, showed me a very different side of himself that night (great thing about travelling, what we learn about our spouses). He insisted on taking a bag of bonbons to the parade, and as soon as the kids started out, he presented the bag to their delighted graspings (then, when they came by the house later, he brought out the bag again and did it all over!) I was absolutely floored. O brave new world, indeed.

Every day in Caussi seemed to turn out right for us, no matter what we planned or what finally panned out. There is just something magic to us about that spot, and we thank you for finding it and sharing it with us. A home says a lot about people, so it's not surprising how close David and I feel to you even though we don't know you.

By the way, Paul and Claire Manley were extremely helpful to us and very friendly beyond being helpful. We didn't meet Monsieur Maury till near the end of our stay, but he was charming , giving us some brochures and friendly advice on an outing.

Well, I won't go on and on, though I could (in fact all our friends will hear about Caussi in our Christmas card, with pix to say more than 1000 words),

thanks again, Nell

　