I also name this Deserted Montpellier. Realizing you shouldn’t plan to visit a European town on Sunday/Monday. But we certainly make the most of it.

We wake to the sound of the kids conspiring quietly. They are playing the game they started last night, treasure hunt, where they ride around on the rolling office chair and retrieve small toys they left all around the apartment.

//Stefan Note: Kaj or Stefan?

This Airbnb has a calm vibe, and we all need to enjoy that a little before setting out into the city. Stefan grabs croissants from the bakery across the street while I prepare a post. This is the best chocolate croissant I’ve had the entire trip! It’s a good start to Montpellier.

After a relaxing morning we set out to explore the city. Stefan found a walking tour to take us past all the big monuments. The kids want to stop for fruit, so we have a short snack break.

We walk for a few minutes until we pass the train tracks. This seems to be the boundary of the city center. As we walk we realize everything is closed because it’s Sunday. Bummer. Nothing looks the same with the boarded up windows and doors.

We pass a burger place and decide to stop because we aren’t sure what else will be open today. We stop and share a couple burgers and fries. They aren’t bad!

We walk along and see many beautiful frescoes on Stefan’s tour route. Three of the major ones are pictured above. It’s a new style that makes the wall look three-dimensional. Pretty cool. You could easily walk by and not realize it’s a flat wall!

It’s a beautiful city with winding narrow roads and withering buildings. We find a small playground next to an old church. Lillian says, “it’s just one slide.” Yes, but one slide can mean 15 minutes of entertainment and rest for the adults. And so it is. Oly goes down that slide 100 times.

We walk and walk and walk. We get to the beautiful Place de la Comedie where there are fountains and lots of walking space. The kids have fun riding their scooters around, then we spot….a playground! Oly keeps saying, “two playgrounds!!!!” I’m pretty sure it’s the best moment of his life. This playground is more substantial and actually pretty cool with a music theme. We stay for almost an hour and then we start to walk again.

We walk to the farthest edge of the city center, where there’s a beautiful arch and France’s largest aqueduct (no longer functional). Everyone is tired, so we decide this has to be our last “tourist” stop.

We walk up winding streets. It’s enchanting. But it’s also tiring. We pass a cute little restaurant and make a reservation on the patio for dinner. It turns out it’s already 5:30! Oly falls asleep on Stefan while we are walking around, so we stop at another little bistro and share a bottle of rose while playing cards. Lillian loves playing crazy 8’s. This is a special little time for her to get our full attention. She even gets a limonade, which is just lemon syrup in soda water. It’s relaxing, and the weather is absolutely perfect. We people watch as tourists make their way to dinner in their finest resort wear.

//Stefan Note: Thats Ll on the church steps, after each play she sprints up and back because she is young and why not.

Then we go back to the restaurant, Les Enfants Rouges, for tapas and the best red wine. Lillian is super happy with the salmon pinxtos. Yes, we had to keep a bit of Spain with us for at least one more day. The real highlight of the night is when the littlest trash truck goes by. Oly is so happy and keeps yelling and turning my head to look at it. We are super thirsty and keep asking for water. When they finally bring a large bottle of water, Stefan pours himself a large glass and gulps it down. It’s salt water! He’s so grossed out but can’t explain it to us before Oly and I each take a sip. Wow Oly’s face is priceless. This isn’t just salty water. This is like ocean water. So strange! When we tell someone, he takes the bottle away, offers no explanation and doesn’t bring a replacement bottle. 

Finally our 20 minute walk back home. Sigh.