What a dreary day to begin your holiday. No, not Sunday but the horrible wet and cold rainy weather which resolutely followed us as we drove 800km down to Castelnaudary (which is between Toulouse – or deux urinals, as I’ve christened it – and Carcassone). We stopped a couple of times, once for an in vehicle picnic and later for a ‘comfort’ break and arrived at ‘Hotel Clos Ferie’ just after 6pm.

The hotel rooms are small and homely but could do with a little refurbishing. The dining room is lovely however and the service from the manageress efficient and welcoming. I opted for a local delicacy, cassoulet. A stew with haricot beans, a sausage and a duck leg, I could best describe it as a filling workers dish. In fact, there was enough to have fed four hungry brickies.

Before you ask, I did indeed make a pig of myself and finished it, even managing a Creme Catalan for dessert. On which note, I’ll end, as we are off early again tomorrow to Girona and on by coach to Barcelona. Stay tuned for more gastronomic adventures..