Said goodbye to our little cottage. Really enjoyed our stay. Got to see great little villages (and Mario to practice driving a 6 speed manual). Off to Montpellier. What a nightmare! Even with a map managed to nearly get lost as thought, because of the signs, that we had passed through a town when we hadn't. After a slight deviation back on track. Tried to stop in Narbonne for a bite to eat but too hard to park. Stopped instead at a Super U (supermarket). As luck would have it, they were selling a GPS Tom Tom. Enquired how it worked, which isn't easy when you don't speak French. Decided to take the chance (and 150 euros) and purchase. What a Godsend. When we got to Montpellier it was mayhem. With the device it was hard enough, as there were roadworks, lots of traffic etc. Without, I don't think we would have found. Finally arrived, Mario double-parked so I could get the key. I had assumed that the park would be next door. How wrong was I. It turned out our parking was 4 streets away! Meanwhile Mario was being tooted and was not a happy man! Reception had printed out a map for the parking which looked easy enough - in theory anyway. Well we got lost and had to use the GPS again. Even with the GPS it took 2 goes. Finally we make it. The parking is behind a set of big wooden doubledoors that need a key to open and some sod has doubleparked across from us so we can't just drive in. I instuct Mario to back in. So, there we are holding up all the traffic trying to back in. I have enough of us trying to squeeze in and tell the rotten sod to move his car! Luckily he looks scared and moves it enough so we can back in (without hitting the CONCRETE pole). Then the walk back to our hotel (luckily thought to drop off luggage previously). Nearly get lost again. By this time girls are hot and tired and Mario wants to LEAVE this place! At reception we get allocated a ground floor room. Yeah! No lifts or stairs!!
After a while in our room recovering we venture out to a town that at first glance appears very yucky with graffiti and concrete and beggars knocking on our car window for money. What a surprise. A short walk up from our hotel is La Comedie, a beautiful old building set in a plaza of other old buildings. Cobbled and marbled lanes, quaint shops and fountains. Very lovely. Had dinner on the terrace of La Comedie overlooking the plaza and all the comings and goings of the people. Glad we did stay. And after a pint of beer and a piña colada Mario felt much better too!