Boar, Donkey, or Ostrich, M'Sieur?

Sat 01 Jul

Another Financial Year over and everyone at home is beginning to think creatively about clawing back hard-earned money paid as tax. Unfortunately for most of us, the vast majority of our tax is now paid as GST and that is money 'done and dusted'. Amazing isn't it that the Government has more money than at any time in our history. No doubt the resources boom is contributing however, the new tax system, promoted as the salaried class's friend, is doing very well thank you yet the poor seem to be getting poorer and the rich...well, I have not heard any of them complain about their tax cuts.
By the way, how is it that this Government can cry poor in relation to our war veterans. "Not a vote catching issue" admit the politicians who wrap themselves in the glory of our Servicemen yet fail them miserably after the job is done. I wonder how many Australians are aware that the Department of Veterans' Affairs has employed a firm of private investigators who use whatever means to determine the position of 'old soldiers' many of whom are in their eighties. Australia has serving and ex-serving people hurting. Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen need help now and only the collective voice of the community is going to bring the 'pollies' to account.

My creativity though must be directed to 'the blog' and today has been a little easier. It's Carcassonne for our guests and the plan is to visit the markets in the morning and then to leave them to their own devices at the old walled town...La Cite. We headed off early and parked in the underground carpark. Jeff and I reckon the lingerei advertisements probably have a lot to do with the time it takes most cars driven by men to get their tickets.

I have recently discussed the Saturday markets in this blog. Today however, our guests were particularly taken with the 'charcuterie' stands (smallgoods). At the sausage stand you find small plastic animals on the meats. One can buy wild boar, pork, donkey, ostrich, beef, horse, goat and that's just for starters. Offal is popular over here if you couldn't guess.

The boys were all eyes in the meat and fish hall. The meat cuts are very 'bloody' and most of the birds such as pigeon, quail, fowl, turkey, and ducks are presented whole having only been plucked. The heads being left on is not really to our taste and the look on the boys' faces confirmed this.

Most of the fish comes from the Meditteranean and if you caught many of the species you would be inclined to throw them back. It is suprising though how good the fish is to eat here. The downside for most of us buying at such a market would be the smell. We have found the prawns to be pretty tasteless and the very popular oysters are not to our taste. Cockles and mussells are sold in their thousands and, with rice, saffron, prawns, langoustine, fish, and chicken make the most delectable 'paella'.

The general market weaved its spell and Jeff couldn't refuse an outstanding bargain in a pair of sandals.

Before heading off to La Cite we all visited the very beautiful Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire where an organ recital was in progress...loud, yet wondrous.

At this stage Donna and I returned to Caunes to sneak a rest. On all accounts our visitors thoroughly enjoyed La Cite notwithstanding that there was no English speaking tour of Trencavell's castle...leaves you wondering about the French approach to tourism!