Home Sweet Home!

Good morning everyone. 

We arrived home safe and sound Saturday, October 7th after a long day of travel!

                 “HOME SWEET HOME”

During our 32-day adventure we travelled in excess of 19,000 kilometres (or 12,000 plus miles) by planes, trains, automobiles, buses, cruise ship and our own two feet. 

We flew a total of 13,500+ kilometres from Toronto to Paris, Paris to Barcelona and returning from Toulouse to Paris, Paris to Toronto via Air France. 

Our cruise ship travels on the MS Riviera throughout the Mediterranean Sea covered (2165 nautical miles) 4009 kilometres. 

Our lovely rental car “the Orange Captur” transported us over 1285 kilometres of highways, city streets, narrow rural roads throughout France and Spain.

And luckily the built in “Molly the GPS” didn’t take us through any vineyard dirt tracks like it did in 2005.

There was no question that we would not find our car wherever we parked it! The bright orange colour made it easy to find! 

Our TGV train ride from Barcelona, Spain to Perpignan, France was a flying ride of only 159-kilometres ... oh how I forgot how we used to travel only by train while in Europe, a relaxing and enjoyable method of travel. 

I’m not sure how much distance we travelled by bus, taxi and on foot but it seemed like plenty.  

 

We visited/ explored many communes, cities, towns and villages in the countries of France, Italy, Malta, Monaco and Spain.

Using our five senses we fully experienced the life and culture of the many places and people we met during our travels. 

We spent two days in Barcelona one on each end of the 10-day cruise, rented the same apartment “Ciel Bleu” in Céret, France for a couple of weeks and then spent our last week in the Lot Valley visiting “lots”of friends. 

We are just getting ourselves sorted, back into some regular routine and catching up on some lost sleep. 

Still working on laundry and putting things away, did get the grocery shopping done on Sunday in between an emergency call to the plumber (no hot water, yikes) ... bad news is not just a repair, water heater needs to be replaced and we are still dealing with this today (Tuesday) ...it  was a holiday weekend here in Canada celebrating Thanksgiving! 

I’m very thankful for our friends and family for hot showers and a delicious “Turkey Supper”! 

I still have many photographs to cull and edit plus many stories, posts to write and share on the blog. 

I’m writing and posting for Monsiuer Honey and myself so when we are old and grey, okay maybe I should say “older and more grey”  sitting in our rocking chairs we will be able to look at the photos, read the stories & reminisce about our wonderful travels! 

A big part of our travels is meeting up with old friends and making new friends ... so a big thank you for being part of our adventure to you all!

A big shout out to the new friends made in Barcelona from Monsiuer Honey’s birthplace aka Geordie land, South Shields, Great Britain ... Dawn & Ian, Pippa & Darren, and our new friends made on the cruise Kathy and Steve from B.C. and so many others. 

Thank you so much to our New Zealand/ Céret friends, Karen and John! 

Thanks again to our “old” friends in the Lot ... Laury, Clare, C &B (original French Connection)! 

Everyone of you were a special part of our travels! 

This Little Piggy went to the Market!

A Market day in the Lot Valley at Monsempren- Libos (Lot et Garonne Dept.)

Our "English" French Connection friends accompanied us to the lively Thursday morning market in Libos.

Here you could find everything you need from beautiful fresh cut Spring flowers for your table, plants for your garden, a bounty of colourful fruits and vegetables, cheeses, wines and oh yes even some "French Trotters" if you like the delicacy of pigs feet! 

,

I passed on these ...

We lunched along the river in Penne d'Agenais followed by a riverside walk ...

 .    

One more stop at the local fueling station in the vineyards ...

Here our "French Connection" friends blend (mélange) rosé to their taste.

Back to our "French Connections' little piece of heaven overlooking the vineyards & countryside... 

a little taste test of the  "Rosé mélange". Delicious!

 

Merci C & B!

Circles within Circles!

The time finally came to say our goodbyes to our dear friend who was an excellent guide and ambassador for her city and the surrounding area.

On our final evening after another full day of the sights and sounds in New Orleans, we joined Laury at her home for some delicitable nibbles, a good bottle of wine and an evening of tintalating conversation.

                            

                        

We met some interesting people both real and not so real.

The butcher, the baker but not the candlestick maker ... the city is adorned with masterful bronze sculptures.

                             

And a new circle of friends, circles within circles which leads to the story of how we met Laury!

Of course, there is a "French Connection"!

         

In 2012 shortly (within a month or so) after our return from our first ever long stay of three months in Gourdon, France which was a truly amazing experience (magnifique!); we were already starting to plan our next adventure.

While searching the rental websites, we found a cute stone cottage named "Beaucaillou" in the small village of Dégagnac located only 12 kilometres from the town of Gourdon.

Late July 2012 we sent an enquiry to the owner regarding the property's availability for an extended stay of three months in 2013.

The pictures, description and details on the website showcased a lovely property and it was located in the Lot Valley, one our favourite areas in France.

As we did not know much about the owner and property, etc. ... we "googled" the cottage and village name "Beaucaillou Dégagnac".

Our search results found a blog post that referenced "Beaucaillou" translation "Beautiful Pebble".

The post was titled "A "Beautiful Pebble" in Dégagnac" in a blog named "Soar-Dream-France".

Reading this post we got our first glimpse of the owner "Clare"  through a photo along with some history of her and the writer's friendship.

The writer being none other than "Laury".

Msr. Honey enjoyed reading the blog about Laury's French life and her other happenings. 

He followed it regularly and it became part of his morning ritual along with reading the daily newspaper.

Fast forward, we did rent Beaucaillou for the three months of April, May and June 2013 and actually met the owner ... and via email she introduced us to our "Belgian Connection" friends ...Madame M. and Msr. Guy ... another circle within a circle.                 

During our return trip in 2014, Clare invited us all for dinner at Beaucaillou.  

Over the course of the evening, Msr. Honey asked Clare "How is your friend who writes the blog?"

Clare responded "She's coming to visit next week."

The stars collided and the rest is history ... we finally met "Laury" in person at an alfresco dinner hosted by the Belgian Connection.

I have to tell you Msr. Honey expected to see Laury dressed in her "overalls"* but that was not the case that evening ... But she did not disappoint him when we arrived at her place on our first day in New Orleans. (*Only those that know Laury will understand this).

A big "Merci beaucoup!" Laury for sharing your time, friends, knowledge and the wonderful places in your "town" of New Orleans!

It is a small world after all!

Where's Pat and Monsieur Honey?

Today we are starting to pack up and getting ready for our departure from our "Home Away from Home" for the past twelve weeks. 

We are heading off Thursday on our last week of adventure in France before we leave on a jet plane back to Canada the first week of July.

This morning the sun is shining beautifully and I would much rather be outside lounging than cleaning and packing... maybe this afternoon I can call it quits for the day and finish a bit more tomorrow.

Early April we arrived at Toulouse Airport and after approximately a two hour drive we found "Beaucaillou" in the hamlet of Dégagnac, not far from the larger town of Gourdon.

                        

The cottage is a converted 17th Century barn and this year the owner has added a pétanque court (boules) in the lower garden.

The main floor has an open plan fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable living room, each area with it's own French doors opening onto the terrace.

Upstairs you will find the Master bedroom and an ensuite powder room and a second large bedroom with views over the back garden, plus on this level is the full bathroom and a small laundry facility on the landing.

You will find the beds most comfortable with bed linens and towels provided.

The terrace is perfect for alfresco dining or lounging in the sun when the weather permits.

There is a wood burning stove to keep the chill off on the cooler days and nights with wood supplied.

Although the village is quiet, there is enough activity in the area to keep you busy.

There is a post office, a fantastic spice shop, an epicierie/ shop for all your needs with a depot de pain (where you can pick up your fresh baguettes, croissants, pain au raisin or pain au chocolat)  and there is the local Auberge restaurant.

There are many areas to walk and discover the local surroundings and the cottage is centrally situated to visit many sites in the Lot and Dordogne region of France.

There are many villages nearby with Farmer's Markets which provide an excuse for a great outing to visit new villages/ towns and the opportunity to purchase fresh local produce, breads, cheeses, pastries, meats, fresh seafood and wines to bring back to the cottage and cook a delicious feast for your lunch or supper.

If cooking is not on your agenda, there are also the rotisserie chicken vendors or "Mr. Paella" for an easy take away meal. 

The village also has a plan d'eau (lake) where you can fish, picnic and enjoy the sunshine and if want to be more active there is also a tennis court here.

The country side is magnificent with beautiful views and surprises around every corner.

                             

         

For full details and more photos of "Beaucaillou" ...  

Check out  www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p956890 

At time of writing there are three or four weeks still available for August 2013.

We have had a totally satisfactory experience renting this cottage in Dégagnac.

www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p956890www.homeaway.com