seasonal changes

Alors, I'm back after marathon journey which was unusually lacking in incident. But look! Changes while I've been away. SHOCKED to see the old arch and stairs under the cafe du Pont have been filled in - an ancient and charming corner of our little town - because they had started to constitute a health risk. How can stairs constitute a health risk? People sliding, tumbling, cascading down them?

Not a bit of it. The stairs had become a health risk because the male patrons of the cafe couldn't resist emptying their bladders down them. There is a perfectly nice toilet in the cafe, but....

Took a look at the alley where the stairs used to emerge and found there a very unattractive steel gate. The last mayor (but two)  General Lafite had arranged for Esperaza to have protected status - no changes without a laborious permission-granting process. Clearly now non-effective. Bah.

On a happier note, there is a huge christmas tree in the square. Saw it arrive on the back of a lorry whilst breakfasting in l'Oryginal with Kat and Mike and followed it to the square where a team were employed in hoisting it into place for the season. 

Here is the last of the snow, for the moment. It seems it snowed last week  and friends in the hills were snowed in; happens about every 7 years and its time. Forecast clear for the moment but its jolly chilly.
Great to be back though :)