Day 3
Got up around 9, still no luggage. Dressed in the same clothes and went downstairs. The bags had arrived at 1 a.m., and were sitting in the lobby!
Had the porter bring them up and we all changed. It felt good after 36 hours.
Went down and checked out, then walked around and took photos with our “new” (recently repaired) Olympus camera.
Went back to LeClerc and got a picnic lunch of ham, bread, and cheese. Drove back to the Pont Valentré. You can no longer drive on the bridge, as you could on our last visit 8 years ago.
Had the porter bring them up and we all changed. It felt good after 36 hours.
Went down and checked out, then walked around and took photos with our “new” (recently repaired) Olympus camera.
Went back to LeClerc and got a picnic lunch of ham, bread, and cheese. Drove back to the Pont Valentré. You can no longer drive on the bridge, as you could on our last visit 8 years ago.
Had a picnic lunch on a bench overlooking the bridge and the Lot river. Walked across the bridge and back, by now very hot.
Back in our mini-minivan, thank God for A/C (90-95 degrees). Cahors looks like a nice place to stop for a meal and a walk, but not today.
Headed up the Lot and then the Célé river valleys. An error by the navigator got us out of the Célé river valley, unfortunately, and we took the un-scenic route to Figeac.
Entering Figeac, we hit traffic again. We had also hit it entering Cahors in the a.m. This is what happens when an entire country goes “en vacances” at the same time. No fun. I can sit in traffic in New Jersey!
Sweated our way through old town Figeac. Nice old Medieval architecture. Jill bought a dress for Kristen for 16€ and we had sorbet.
Back in our mini-minivan, thank God for A/C (90-95 degrees). Cahors looks like a nice place to stop for a meal and a walk, but not today.
Headed up the Lot and then the Célé river valleys. An error by the navigator got us out of the Célé river valley, unfortunately, and we took the un-scenic route to Figeac.
Entering Figeac, we hit traffic again. We had also hit it entering Cahors in the a.m. This is what happens when an entire country goes “en vacances” at the same time. No fun. I can sit in traffic in New Jersey!
Sweated our way through old town Figeac. Nice old Medieval architecture. Jill bought a dress for Kristen for 16€ and we had sorbet.
Then on to St. Céré via the scenic route through the Ségala. Almost 5 p.m., so we headed straight to the supermarché for provisions. No need to rush, though. Unlike on our last visit, the markets stay open later on Saturdays (about 7 p.m.) Bought groceries and headed towards our house.
Definitely some new construction and stores since out last visit 4 years ago. But the old towns still look the same, like our own Gagnac-Sur-Cére and La Teuliere.
Made the twisting drive up the narrow road from Gagnac to La Teuliere with a lot less trepidation this time, since we knew the way. It comes right back to you, even after 4 years.
The house hasn’t changed much – still a 1700’s farmhouse on a small piece of property with a great view. Richard has redone the batch since our last visit, and the price is great at $800 a week.
Definitely some new construction and stores since out last visit 4 years ago. But the old towns still look the same, like our own Gagnac-Sur-Cére and La Teuliere.
Made the twisting drive up the narrow road from Gagnac to La Teuliere with a lot less trepidation this time, since we knew the way. It comes right back to you, even after 4 years.
The house hasn’t changed much – still a 1700’s farmhouse on a small piece of property with a great view. Richard has redone the batch since our last visit, and the price is great at $800 a week.
Had a Pastis and wine on the patio as I cooled off a little. Jill prepped and Dave cooked a dinner of thin pork cutlets, carrots and potatoes fried in olive oil with thyme. An expensive ($9) bottle of Cahors wine to top it off. (The most expensive in the store. Jill’s white cost $1.50!)
Richard’s satellite, newly tuned, now only gets German stations and CNBC. Mr. Poulet, who tuned it, probably thought the German was English… watched senior golf on CNBC, Jill and Kristen to bed at 11, Dave at 12:30 after reading Peter Mayle’s book on food in France – French Lessons.
P.S. – From the grocery store we got an empty box that says “Langue de Chat”. Either way you look at it, a box of cat’s tongues, or something involving the language of cats is weird. (Ed. Note – we saw them later in the store – they’re cookies)
Day 4 >>>
Richard’s satellite, newly tuned, now only gets German stations and CNBC. Mr. Poulet, who tuned it, probably thought the German was English… watched senior golf on CNBC, Jill and Kristen to bed at 11, Dave at 12:30 after reading Peter Mayle’s book on food in France – French Lessons.
P.S. – From the grocery store we got an empty box that says “Langue de Chat”. Either way you look at it, a box of cat’s tongues, or something involving the language of cats is weird. (Ed. Note – we saw them later in the store – they’re cookies)
Day 4 >>>
