Thursday, March 8, 2012

Busy Tuesday in Gourdon

Tuesday, 06 March 2012

On the first Tuesday of every month between 10h00 to 11h00, there is a free English book exchange held at the L’Atelier des Langues. 

We were warmly welcomed by the owners, who also happen to be our landlords and offered a cup of coffee.

We had a good root through a large selection of books displayed by type; fiction, non-fiction, history, etc. not unlike a library.

I was fortunate enough to find a novel by Anita Shreve (author of the Pilot’s Wife) that I had not yet read titled “Strange Fits of Passion“ a perfect vacation book. I hope to read this laying out in the garden in the dappled sunlight before the month is over.

As Graeme is an avid reader, it is sometimes difficult for him to find anything he hasn’t read. But today, he did find one by Ian Rankin that had not been crossed off his list.

We also picked up a triple DVD collection called Conspiracy Theories which purports to uncover some of history’s most intriguing mysteries about JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Di which we hope will provide us with some entertainment on a rainy day or cool evening.

Then we headed to the Foire - an Outdoor Market with merchants selling their wares and dry goods.
This market is held the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Here, we purchased a brightly colored blue, red, yellow and green plaid blanket which will be excellent for afternoon naps and for sunny picnics later.

We trudged down the hill to one of the supermarkets for a quick pickup and then up the hills home for lunch.

Below are a couple of photos of the view from the bottom of the hill as we are walking up to our little cottage.



We are looking up to where the Castle once stood and the Table d’ Orientation (where we walked up the 100 plus steps yesterday).

Sun is shining brightly but the air is cooler today!


Honey’s Blankie” is getting the thumbs up! Do you think he will share it?

This evening for supper, Honey is cooking fresh pasta that we purchased from “Les Pastas Marco” at the Saturday Market.

He is making fettuccine with ham and peas in his homemade Alfredo sauce served with a frise salad with avocado, tomato, radish…it should be delicious! 




Here he is enjoying the wine and the gloaming, looking out the dining room window from the cottage…(this is for you Ted & Luann)

In between his cooking, he is enjoying a glass of Chateau Alvina- Cahors Red Wine 2009 - Mis en bouteille au chateau- made and bottled at the chateau….
Les Landes Hautes”- “M. Mme. Lacombe & Fille” Niaudon 46220 Prayssac strong blackberry and cassis flavors, which he is quite enjoying.

M. Bruce’s palette rates this wine at 7 out of 10.

It was a busy Tuesday in Gourdon.

Bon Nuit!


Mondays in France

MONDAY / LUNDI IN FRANCE

Mondays in France, everything is closed with exception of a couple of cafes / restaurants and local hardworking  private businesses …and luckily, the only Bar/Restaurant in Gourdon with WI-FI was one of the rare places that were open for business today.

“Le Promenade” is just around the corner from our place…and we finally found a shortcut to reach the café.

Spent the morning there, enjoying “une/ deux  tasse du café” and happy finally able to access the Internet and feel connected to everyone back home, and post some entries to our blog.

It being Monday/ lundi in France, we thought we would continue our discovery of the Town … we gained access to the “Table d’orientation”  high above the streets, by the stairs beside the Church and UP, UP and UP we went, counted over 100 steps and some were two to three feet wide.
(Note capitalization of up…Pat does not like heights)


On our next visit to the top, I will remember to record the altitude/elevation.
It’s inscribed on the wheel.


From here we enjoyed beautiful views of the town and the countryside…although, the landscape still has hues of brown and grey, signs of spring are showing.


More importantly, here many years ago, stood the Castle, the former Fortress of the Town, which was ordered dismantled by King Louis 13th.


Views down to our cottage; it’s the one in the center of the picture with the two dormer windows

 
We look forward to going to the top every month to see the changing colors of the landscape.

 
A bientôt!


Sunday Lunch in Gourdon

Our First Sunday in Gourdon (04 March 2012)

Today, we received our first visitors, our dear friends C & B, more endearingly known as the “French Connection” who first introduced us to the Lot Valley.

C & B live in the small village of Prayssac, which lies west of Gourdon and is about a 45 minute drive away through the rural countryside.


Sunday was also – Fete des Grand-Meres (Grandmother’s Day)…….
(I’m missing all my little ones).

Is this another Hallmark moment?
My friends brought a beautiful bouquet of spring tulips and daffodils in honor of this special day.


We had a great visit, caught up on the news and shared a delicious lunch of roast Chicken, roasted potatoes, glazed carrots and small peas, salad, dessert of apple and fig crumble topped with crème fraiche, and let’s not forget ”le plateau de fromages” of Brebis, Brie, Cantal and Roquefort with thin slices of French baguette…and of course local Cahors wines.

Our little house is starting to feel like home!