5 Rue Marsis

Our Home Away From Home…where is it located? It's only 6,313 kilometers northwest from our Home in Canada (according to our GPS)

Today, we’ll talk about our little abode located on one of the many tiny lanes in the historical part of the medieval town of Gourdon.

It is compact over three floors. You enter from the front door at street level and then two steps up into the kitchen. In the kitchen is a wonderful window seat for two carved out of the stonewall, and on this level is also the dining room with lovely views of the back garden, over neighboring rooftops and further afield into the countryside. The modern bathroom is also located on this level and a modern washing machine.

Upstairs (14 steps up) are two bedrooms, the master in the front of the house with two dormer windows with views of the street above and higher up to the stone wall where the castle once stood.

The guest room with two beds has a window facing northwest that commands magnificent views.

Downstairs (13 steps down) on the lower level is the living room with its exposed stonewall and the single French door to the back garden.

The back garden is furnished with a table and chairs for al fresco dining and two loungers for relaxing.   

We have permission to do some gardening and have already some plans to introduce some color and low maintenance plantings…this will keep us both busy this spring. Our friends from Prayssac are bringing us some pots so we have something to start with.

Today (10 March 2012), at the Market we were encouraged by the sunny and warm weather to buy some plants. We arrived home with some primroses and colorful pansies.

Our landlady has supplied us with a trowel and clippers to get us started.

I would describe the house as a walkout…it looks like a two storey in the front, but three from the back.

The house is aesthetically pleasing and tastefully decorated.

We are reluctant to share the website in case it gets totally booked and we won’t be able to come back, but are pleased to make a recommendation for The Petit Gite on rue Marsis|”. 

www.petitgite.com

If you want to feel like you are truly living the French life, this would be the perfect place…location is great, close to shops, cafes, restaurants and train station for travelling further afield if you don’t want to rent a car.

Gourdon is central to many tourist attractions in the Lot/ Dordogne region. It is also located on the main Toulouse - Paris train line.

Today 13th March, temperature 19C at 1PM after some gardening and hike from the farm store to get potting soil; we enjoyed our first al fresco lunch.

 Life is good!

Are we there Yet?

After months of planning, finally three days to departure.

Luggage to pack...what do you take for 3 months, probably 3 seasons of weather, Winter, Spring and early Summer.

The luggage will in the end determine what I take, after all there is only so much space.

Camera, cell phone, laptop, GPS are they another other devices we need??

Airline tickets, train schedule, passports and euros, etc. at the ready.

Making the Most of our Last Days in France

Postcards of our last walk down the Boulevard to rue Marsis through the the Old Gate.
Today (Wednesday. 30th May 2012)  was our last morning in Gourdon...once our suitcases were finally closed, we went for a coffee and one last stroll around town.

This is the only gate entrance that is left in the old market town of Gourdon at the base of the hill where  the castle once stood.. it would have led from the mote (which is now the Boulevard) that surrounded the medieval town ..this gateway leads to our lane - rue Marsis.





Our friends, C& B were picking us up at 11:30AM to take us to Toulouse

We stopped on the way for lunch.

C & B are travelling thru the locks on the Canal du Midi, bringing their boat closer to home. They are staying at a Marina in downtown Toulouse for a night.

Across the street from the Marina is a Fire Station, we hope they had quiet, peaceful night's sleep without too many sirens from the (Pompiers) disturbing them.

After sharing a bottle of bubbly with our friends, we said our farewells.

Honey & I took the bus back to the train Station stop, where we caught the Navette (airport shuttle).

 This shuttle service makes 4 stops and we got off at Jeanne d'arc Place.

(Joan of Arc Place) near the Capitol Square. 

We strolled the streets and viewed some interesting archictecture.

We found a great restaurant for a light supper, where we shared a delicous salad and  pizza, some great red wine, and some great conversation with a New Zealand couple sitting at the table next to us.

We finished off our last night in France with Cafe Gourmands...this one's mini desserts included tiramasu, chocolate fondant cake and creme brulee and an expresso shot.

Who could ask for anything more?   

Tomorrow we fly home!

This concludes our "Postcards" as all good things come to an end.

We posted 76 Postcard stories during our 3 month adventure in France.

Without a doubt this was a most enjoyable adventure for both of us and provided us with a "taste of life" in France.

Hope you enjoyed it too!