We had one last day on our hiking/relaxing vacation in the Pyrenees and Banyuls sur Mer. The weather got a little colder and windier, so we simply decided to explore the town a bit.
A French navy/coast guard ship was anchored just offshore, and a surfer was taking advantage of the wind/waves:
We walked to the Church La Rectorie, built in the 12 century (Romanesque).
From what we read, the bell tower with three bells is somewhat unique.
Right next to the church is the oldest cemetery in town, with family crypts (some old, some newer):
As it turned out, a small festival was starting in town. This band started entertaining in the afternoon. Notice how Spanish the traditional costumes appear -- we are very close to the border after all!
The music played was also quite "Spanish". (The stage in the background was being set up for later concerts).
The performers were compete hams - and of course the crowd loved it. Notice the jackets and scarves and body language... the weather had definitely turned and was no longer Summer. We had our fleeces on.
After a brief listen, we headed back to the waterfront one last time for a glass of Banyuls. All of the beach cafes brought the plastic sheets down to keep out the wind and light rain, but the view was still nice.
After dark, we found a pizza restaurant that looked promising:
The "cave" was small and comfy, and the pizza quite good. (With another glass of Banyuls, too.)
As we walked back to the hotel for the last time, the small festival was still going stong.
It was a great way to end the vacation, and we can clearly recommend Banyuls for a Mediterranean getaway.