Farewell Picasso!!!

Wednesday 09^th May 2012

 Farewell Picasso!

Today, it was time for Picasso to return home after serving us faithfully for 5 weeks and 3032 kms and we will now get back to daily walking.

Picasso drove us to Cahors and we returned to Gourdon via train.

A lovely day was spent in Cahors, the former capital of the Quercy region.

We strolled through the Market Square and the surrounding lanes and streets.

We also wandered thru the underground parking garage and showed our guests the Roman Amphitheater that was discovered during the construction of the garage.

An al fresco lunch was enjoyed at the Bistro Gambetta in the square overlooking the fountains and commanding statue of Leon Gambetta (the 19^th (1838 -1882) century statesman who was born in Cahors, one of the founders of the Third Republic and briefly premier of France *1881-1882). We all enjoyed seafood today ...Risotto with a duo of Salmon - smoked and fresh for Graeme & Donna, I had Dorado fish, and of course, Mr.John was the exception and had Pasta with tomato sauce,Tagliatelle.

On our walk to the train station, we viewed the “Pont Valentre” and enjoyed the views from the fortified bridge which was built in 1308 to keep the English out of Cahors and apparently it worked. 

The bridge is one of Europe’s finest medieval monuments, a wonderful example of military architecture and one of the most beautiful in France.

There is a legend (folklore) that the Devil himself helped finish building the bridge on time. 

The Devil agreed to deliver all the materials necessary in return for the architect’s soul.

When the bridge was nearly complete, the architect told the Devil to bring him water in a sieve.

Not surprisingly, after several attempts he failed and in revenge he broke off the top stone of the central tower and every time the stone was replaced it would fall off.

During the 1879 restoration, the stone was fixed firmly and a carving of the Devil trying to dislodge it was carved into the stone and is still there.

 Farewell Picasso!

Train station in Cahor from whence we returned to Gourdon.

Strawberries and Walnuts

8^th May 2012

Strawberries and Walnuts

Today was another holiday in France, in recognition of the end of the Second World War, and  a memorial ceremony was held in Square of Souvenir.

Our day started with a walk around town, with a stop for coffee at a Café.

We had reservations for 12:30PM at a restaurant in the small hamlet of Nabirat and on our way we took a scenic drive to the Notre Dame Chapel des Neiges with the water mill. The Church was built in 1652.

We arrived in Nabirat at Le Diabolo-Fraise, which is owned and operated by the mother of a waitress, Roxane that serves us frequently at our home Café in Gourdon.

Nabirat is home of the Strawberry Festival and home to the largest strawberry tart. 

It was a magic moment when we were greeted by Roxane and her mother, Catherine and because of the holiday we were told we had the restaurant to ourselves.

Our table when we arrived

Each place setting

We were treated fantastically with aperitifs, a five-course meal, plenty of wine, coffee and digestives.

Everything was made in the restaurant’s kitchen with fresh local products; even the raspberries in the dessert were local even though not in season, had been fresh frozen the previous season.

First course - Tureen of Vegetable Soup

Second Course - Crudite Plate, stuffed artichoke, homemade pate, carrots, tomatoes and avocado, beets, grilled carrots and shrimp, roasted pepper, and smoked ham, etc.

Duck Confit with Potatoes

Cheese Plate

Fl;aky pastry with custard filling and raspberries and strawberry coulis.

Our meals were prepared by an experienced chef, who also is an artist and some of his works hang on the walls of the restaurant.

It was a very enjoyable, magical experience that lasted three hours and we enjoyed the company of our hostesses.

Le Diabolo-Fraise

Le Bourg

24250 Nabirat

05 53 59 36 83

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On our return trip to Gourdon, we took a side road to see the village of Payrignac and while driving around we were again surprised by finding “Les Moulin des Fumades” which is a Walnut Oil Mill and Museum.

This establishment was not open, but the owners were outside and very willingly offered to give us a tour which was very interesting.

We also watched a short video with English subtitles that showed the original state of the mill when they purchased the property approx. 10 years ago, the restoration of the property and the first production of walnut oil when it was finally restored.

The business also operates “Chambres d’ hotes”.

http://www.lemoulindesfumades.com/

A fantastic day with glorious weather and returned home fully satiated.

Prehistoric Walk

Prehistoric Walk

Toured the “Grottes de Cougnac”, prehistoric caves this morning (Monday, 7^th May 2012)

“As much for its geological importance as for its beauty, as much for its beauty as for its testimony of Paleolithic art, Cougnac is one of the most moving caves I know”… by Andre Leroi-Gourhan (excerpt from Les Grottes Magiques).

The caves were discovered in 1949 – 1952.  These caves contain one of the greatest collections of concretions; thousands of stalactites hang from the ceilings and stalagmites are growing from the floor.

In the painted caves ( no picture taking was allowed ) , 302 motifs have been listed and recorded; comprising of 274 signs, 22 animals, 4 human beings, 1 rubbed hand and 1 unidentified motif., many carbon dated to 14/15,000  years ago. These photos are of the walk to the painted caves and the entrance door.

On the drive around the lake we discovered these poppies growing on the roadside.

 

Lunch today was lakeside at “La Table du Marais” in the small village of Grolejac. We sat outside in the sunshine to eat our lunch; John especially enjoyed his “Mexican Hamburger”.