10 a.m.: A gentle start to the day
Christelle was born on the island of La Réunion, but it was in Catalonia that she founded her family. She has two sons, Romain aka "Ticou" aged 14 and Cédric aka "Titi" aged 8. Passionate about her adopted region and working in tourism, she shares her favorite places with us. Our family day begins at the media library! The first thing that strikes you as you push open the doors is the brightness of the place! We feel as if we're in an outdoor space, a feeling further enhanced by the hall's grass-covered cobblestone carpet. Thanks to this warm ambience, we particularly enjoy taking the time to lie down on the floor cushions, taking advantage of the small terrace to read Cédric's and Romain's favorite books, as there's a wide selection of books for all tastes and ages.
11 a.m.: Cultural break at the museum
We continue up the street to the Natural History Museum! The 350 m² permanent exhibition features rare and extinct animals from the Pyrénées-Orientales region, as well as several collections ranging from minerals to animals (naturalized or skeletal), shells and fossils. Also on display is an Egyptian mummy from Dynasty XXIII in its sarcophagus, donated in 1847. This museum is very pleasant to visit with young children, as it is reasonably sized and adapted for a young audience.
12:30 pm: Lunch in the heart of our green lung
Time for lunch!
Our favorite spot for a picnic is the Square Bir Hakeim. This 3-hectare park is considered the green lung of the city center. And when we don't have our packed lunch, we stop off at the kiosks on the nearby Allées Maillol. With street food, seafood and gourmet treats, there's something for everyone. We then spend an hour at the children's playground. While Titi plays, Romain and I relax on one of the benches, taking a book from the nearby reading box. It doesn't go unnoticed, with its "English telephone box" shape and flamboyant red!
2:30 pm: Shopping stroll
Along the Quai Vauban!
This beautiful pedestrian street offers a stroll along the banks of the Canal de la Basse, with a superb view of the Castillet, "the emblem of our city". Then it's on to the other pedestrianized streets of the hypercentre, such as rue de l'Ange, rue Voltaire, rue Mailly, rue Louis Blanc and many others... Our favorite family stores? La Drôlerie, Sortilèges and La Goule Joyeuse.
4 p.m.: A gourmet break to round off the day
We head for Place République for a snack!
We like to sit in one of the cafés on this colorful square for a hot or cold drink, depending on the season. When we're in a gourmet mood, we fall for one of the pastries in the window of Olivier Bajard, "meilleur ouvrier/ pâtissier de France". As the day draws to a close, it's time to head home.
