Another round of Banyuls

There were too many photos to put into one post, so you’re stuck with Banyuls again. Hardship, right?

This time we’ll zoom in on a few charming details around the town. For example, how often does the word “adorable”  come up in connection with “police station”? And that scooter is cuteness itself.

Plus it had CLEAN public toilets on the other side! Four of them! With soap and everything!

The wise people of Banyuls knew to leave well enough alone in some cases….

while keeping most of the place spiffy. There was a lot of Belle Epoque architecture.

They had some interesting ideas about electricity, sometimes charming

sometimes not. I suppose it’s inevitable with stone walls.

There were some cute vehicles.

But parking is difficult.

Better not forget the parking brake. (Do you see the van, up high?)

This sign near the beach says: Attention drivers. In case of a storm, please URGENTLY evacuate your vehicle. The town cannot be held liable in any case.

Of course, steep hills + solid rock or buildings everywhere + sudden rain = flash flood. Get a load of these foundations:

The people of Banyuls like to decorate, whether it’s a rock outcropping, an electric meter cover or a paella pan.

Mostly with good taste.

Nicely planted palms around a little bandstand and square.

This olive tree must be a couple hundred years old.

Wonderful street lamps. The wiring, not so much.

On the flatter, more spread-out end of town, the villas hid behind grand gates.

More modest homes also had handsome entries, even if they seemed sized for third graders.

And they are crazy about flowers. Especially bougainvillea, in every neon shade.

There was another verbiose sign:

“Thank you for your public-spiritedness”! These pétanque players seemed to be minding the rules.

Must be rough playing right next to the beach, especially on hot summer nights.

Banyuls is a highly recommended day trip from Carcassonne. And until you can come, you can pretend, by getting a bottle of Banyuls’ famous fortified wine (it’s like port, but DO NOT say that to anybody from Banyuls). Santé!