It is a beautiful day in the Dordogne, the sky is blue and it bodes to be a hot summers day. The day starts with freshly brewed coffee and a selection of fine meats bread and cheeses. No1 and The Operator went out hunting and gathering this morning for fresh bread and further supplies, they rattled the door of the Alimentary to stir the owner…the door to the store was locked, and they weren’t actually open yet but No1 figured he was inside so he should be open. So rattle they did, and surprising, for a Frenchman, he actually opened the door…No1 is so wise.
By 1000 am we were out the door for a wee tour around the Dordogne before it got to hot. First stop was Domme, an old fortified village built on a clifftop in 1281 with the most beautiful panorama of the Dordogne Valley and River. It looks so beautiful from up high, the winding blue snake of the river cutting through the patchwork fields. On the river people in canoes were taking advantage of the down stream current and just drifting along in the sunshine. The sun warmed our backs as we lent on the stone wall gazing at the view.
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The town was busy with many visitors and right by the viewpoint was a market in progress, a really good one at that selling fine artisan products, Aurora bought souvenirs for the children. After a wine on a terrace the bells tolled from the church and we moved on.
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A couple of kilometers down the road is La Roque Gageau, it is a stunning village strung along the cliff side appearing to be made out of and just morphing out of the cliff side stone.
The golden hued stone looked beautiful in the morning light as you gazed up the steep staired access ways to the houses. The road runs in front of the houses with the river bordering the road, there is just a thin footpath from the front door to the road, the houses have rounded cellar doorways at this level as this town used to be an important port, river traders stored their goods in these road level cellars all ready to be transported away.
The birds were swooping overhead and people were already lining the terraces set for lunch. A gambere boat came down the river full of tourists, Aurora waved from the riverbank and a few reluctantly returned the gesture.
We returned to the car, we were now off to the supermarket for No1s dinner supplies, wine and some yummies for lunch. The afternoon is going to be spent recovering from a lunch of french delicacies and wine….maybe even a siesta in the sun is on the menu…oh, what is not on the menu is pomegranates…to the dismay, yet quick thinking by No1 they have been substituted for cherries.
Rosie is looking forward to dinner tonight…While Aurora and No1 are enjoying the afternoon sun and having a wee siesta Rosie and The Operator went for a small walk around the village of Sarlat. It was mid afternoon and baking hot, the warmth of the sun was radiating off the sandstone buildings and everyone was sitting or walking in the deep pools of shadow cast in the narrow alleys from the tall buildings. The churchbell chimed and the pigeons cooed and fluttered overhead. Righteo….time to head back and see how No1 is getting on with dinner….oh, they are still snoozing….
It was six o’clock and No1 and Aurora decided to go and explore the village…Rosies tummy is grumbling…seven o’clock and still no dinner being prepared….then No1 came back with the perfect recommendation. He will cook tomorrow, tonight we go out cause it it is too late to start cooking. Yay, Rosie was starting to get hungry.
No1 had already cased out a joint for tea and we had duck, duck and more duck…with the most beautiful runny custard and fluffy meringue for pudding. Then home for more wine on the deck…Rosie has never been sleeping so well at night….
chappeau, mon cousin