spain, france & the cottage!!!

We have been out of range of internet access for over a week, so apologies! I have only 15 minutes so have had little time to read emails or comments. next time! We loved Spain & eventually managed to leave, driving up to Carcassonne to see the fairytale like castle & wander iniside its walls. We kept going that night, staying in a hotel beside the road in a tiny place called Roquefixade just east of Foix. Jagged a gorgeous view on our terrasse of the cliff behind, with it,s ruined church & castle on the top. breakfasted out there then drove alf way up & climbed the rest. Spectacular view of mountains, some snowcappe, and the rest of the valley. Afterwards we went through Foix & really enjoyed a tour of an underground river in a tinny! There's limestone stuff (stalagmites etc) & the guide pushes the boat through using the ropes attached to the walls. A lot of the time you have to duck your head as it's so low! again we stayed in a hotel/restaurant n the side of th road (often it's the only option) in Montrejeau, then drove the rest of the way across the Pyrenees to Biarritz the next day. Have started aving picnics by rivers & love the freedom of a car. Stayed just south of Biarritz in St-Jean-de-Luz, both of which are big surfing beaches! and prate towns... came to Our Cottage on Saturday after on one wrong turn which meant we visited Spain again briefly! It's fantastic, with everything we need & despite being such a small hamlet that it doesn,t even have one shop, it's close to lots of fabulous places. We have walked through old castles, seen prehistoric cave paintings via a little rain underground & tomorrow are canoeing down the Dordogne river for 22 km! yes, downstream. are enjoying the xuries of clean clothes, & a kitchen. must go, time running out! love, Belle xxx