Prats has its fair share of incommers seeking a better climate. One of these is Patricia who moved here when about my age snd has spent the last 13 years or so doing up the children's home that she bought. It is still a work in progress as she tends to get distracted by inconsequentials like tennis on the telly. Very kindly she has offered to show me the sites of interest off the beaten track as it were. At one time there was a large espadrille factory in Prats, now long since closed. Espradilles are still made in the region in a village called St Laurent de Cerdens so she took me for a visit, fantastic colours o n the fabric and by the metre very good value, but when converted into napkins, bags and spectacle cases the price goes through the roof. E.g 30 €/ metre but 10 € for a napkin and 150 € for a bag. After that it was a wander round the next village down the road-Coustouges, over the border when the road suddenly changes from a pothole infested and no road markings to a well defined road with hard shoulders. On then to Tapis, a favourite restaurant of said incommers , who go for the basic spanish food which is not only very nice but also cheap. It has prospered , and developed into a lonely hotel in the middle of nowhere. The next call was at Macenet, for a walk down the single car width high street and a refuelling stop at the local bar, so the fancy local architecture could be admired. The final stop was at the roadside to pick up some rockfall to be used in the garden!.
That 4 hour trip has been exchanged for 2hours of strimming her grass patch, did not quite clear the 1/4 acre plot in that time....but she's already devising the next jaunt...by the way she has her own pool...think I could suggest a dip after all that hard work??
Had 2 lovely sunny days- Temp displayed outside the chemist was 31 but reckon that was a good 5-6degrees out, still like a good summers day, not too hot and the noight stuggle to getinto double figures so very pleasant. No raging temps to send your way... sorryI
