Summer holiday 2006
le Cap D´Agde − France


Friday, 28th July

A few days ago we were walking around at the Marina and we passed by the dock were site seeing boat is moored. The boat is a catamaran, a double hull boat with windows in both hulls. These allow you a view on the ocean floor with all its marine life. Since we are not going anywhere today, this trip seemed like a good and interesting thing to do. So, this afternoon we board the boat for a trip to the fort Brescou and a small trip along the Plage du Mole beach.

Thus we walk to the marina to find out that we are not alone. Many more people like to make the boat trip also. We get ourselves a ticket and wait till the crew opens the doors. When they do open up, we go top the top deck and get seat next to the railing so we can enjoy the view and the cool ocean breeze that is blowing. After about twenty minutes the ropes are untied, the boat turns around and starts to make its way to the marina entrance (or exit if you like).

As I mentioned before, we are first going to pay a visit to the fort Brescou that is situated on a rocky outcrop just of the coast in front of the marina entrance. This fort has been constructed during the reign of Louie the 14th under the supervision of the cardinal Richelieu. Initially it was a real fort protecting the harbor opening against enemies. Later on it was designated the function of a prison. Today it is only a tourist attraction that you can visit by boat.

Arrived at the fort the stairs to the hollow outriggers are opened and people are allowed to go down to have a look at the ocean life that is visible through the plate glass windows in the hull. For a while we circle around the fort, carefully avoiding the very large rocks on which the fort has been constructed. Due to lots of sediment that floats in the water the site is kind of limited. In spite of the sediment problem, still there are some small fish swimming around.

When the boat has circled the fort ones or twice (hard to tell down stairs), the people are summand to come up and the glass hull sections are closed for the public again. We leave the fort behind us and steam westward alongside the coast into the direction of the Plage du Mole beach. The weather today is quite nice, sunny with a bit of wind that provides a gentle swell.

Today we decided to do nothing at all, and as much as we can.