Drifting Around the Dordogne!

Monday, 03 June 2013

The banks of the roads we travelled today were covered with crops of wildflowers in whites, yellows and reds ....the reds being poppies.

There are so many beautiful bastides, villages, towns and cities in France.

Today we visited Daglan, a quaint village with interesting boutiques, restaurants, beautiful homes and gardens.

                       

Next we travelled to Beynac situated on the Dordogne River.

Here we wondered the cobblestone streets and enjoyed an alfresco lunch in the sunshine overlooking the river.

Once again, so far this year the boats were not operating due to the high waters in the river.

It was a perfect sunny day to enjoy a glass of cold rosé with our lunch on the terrace of the restaurant at  "Hôtel du Château" La Balme - 24220 Beynac & Cazenac - France 

www..hotel-beynac-Dordogne.com

We travelled alongside the river past several Châteaux.

We finally arrived in Castlenaud La Chapelle for a visit at Château des Milandes.

Here we viewed the gardens, enjoyed a cool drink in the courtyard, watched the Bird of Prey Show and toured the Chateau, the former home of Josephine Baker.

It is now privately owned and open to the public. 

Many of the original furnishings are on display.

Also we saw many of Josephine Baker's costumes, gowns and memorabillia including her famous Banana Belt. 

The Château also features highlights of her remarkable life ... her musical and dancing career, her adoption of twelve children from different religions and nationalities creating her "Rainbow Tribe".

There is a room dedicated to her work with the Resistance for which she received the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre.

No photo or video taking is allowed inside the Château, today we were lucky to see this silver urn flower arrangement outside in the courtyard and then later it was displayed inside the dining room.

  

Making the Most of It.

Today (Saturday) there was not too much sunshine, with rain on and off most of the day that quickly altered the plans to do some outside activities and gardening. 

At midday, noon... we decided to go to town for a quick pickup and as we were heading out we decided to check out an advertised Brocante/ Vide-Grenier in Daglan in the Dordogne.

What a lovely village and deserving of a return visit on a dry, sunny day when we can stroll the streets, alleyways and enjoy a coffee at an outside café.

At the" Brocante/ Vide-Greniers" the die-hard sellers were set up with their wares in the rain sodden grounds, and the dealers with higher quality items were set up inside the  "Salle de Fêtes".

There was a beautiful dining room table with eight chairs that appealed to me today...but again too large for the suitcases.

Another item of interest today was the umbrella stand...but it came with no umbrellas which would have been useful.

An unique umbrella stand.

Some cast iron pots (planters), a bird cage, a garden frog...lots of things to add character to a garden.

What a novel idea...the drawer fronts are made of wine box lids.

What's behind this fence?

A lovely hidden garden.

A street view in Daglan.

The old "Mairie"..the Mayor's office/Town hall.

And behind gate number one.....