Enroute to Olonzac

#Degagnac#Carcasonne##Trebes#Olonzac

Today we said "Au revoir" to Dégagnac and the Lot Valley ... Merci beaucoup for the hospitality to Madame M. et Monsieur Guy.

We headed southeast to the Languedoc - Roullison for our last week in France ... 

The drive was very uneventful ... which is good!

We did make a stop on the highway at an "Aire" ... similar to a service area on the 401 in Ontario ... we chose this one because it had a "Viewpoint" overlooking the Medieval City of Carcassonne.

Remember this is where the movie "Robin Hood The Prince of Thieves" was filmed ... maybe I will rent this DVD when the grandkids visit.

We stayed here during our first French adventure in 2003 and it was a magical night. 

Oh la- la Monsieur Honey  ... "Where has the time gone?" 

Our next stop was along the Canal du Midi in Trebes ... time for lunch.

This restaurant was right next to one of the locks on the river ....

It was here in the summer of 2005 that my own "Mr. Hemingway", myself and our dear friends Shari and Doug cruised the Canal du Midi.

After our lunch complete with a most delectable dessert, we continued enroute to Olonzac where we will spend our near last week at Sainte Helene's apartment ... a wonderful retreat (I will share more about this little piece of heaven soon.)

This dessert I am going to recreate at home ... Tarte citron, strawberry Coulis and chocolate and the little bowl in the right hand corner is a palate cleanser ... Sorbet infused with Campari!

Monpazier Monkeys!

Friday ... the weather was dreary, cloudy and rainy!

We said "Au revoir" to Monsiuer Guy with hugs and kisses as we delivered him to the Bergerac airport to catch his quick flight to Belgium.

        

As we drove back we were in need of a break ... we stopped in the Bastide town of Monpazier for a stroll through the streets and a refreshment.

It turned out be ... "The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia" ... no ... It was "Monpazier"!

A lightening strike knocked out all the electricity in the town ... we then enjoyed our beverages by candlelight and then the rain blew in ... 

Monsieur Honey scored another "Ricard" glass ...which we found out from the bartender are not available for direct purchase anymore and we also received a history lesson ... "Ricard" was produced after "Absinthe" was made illegal in France. 

Monsieur Honey acquired a taste for Ricard after his first taste of "Ricard" / "Pastis" last year!

It is a licorice flavoured liquor that you mix with water ... Enjoyed as an aperitif.

After the rain stopped we sauntered down the narrow streets ...

              

                        

Excitement was building in the cafés, French flags were flying high in support of their team that was playing in the World Cup tonight.

                  

I found a wonderful shop ... full of linens and kitchen gadgets, etc.

I didn't even have to step inside to be lured by the beautiful, eclectic things ...

Did Grandma go bananas?  

I couldn't resist the colourful tablecloth screen printed with monkeys and palm trees ... the colours will be perfect in our home and I think the "Grandkids" will love the "Monkeys" ... another great souvenir to remember our day in Monpazier.

Monpazier is a beautiful town ...

 

We then went to Gourdon for a light supper with Madame M. and watched the football match.

 ( Canadians call it soccer ).

Playing in Prayssac

#Prayssac#LotValley#Expats

Thursday ...

Our French Connection friends invited us to spend the day and enjoy an alfresco lunch ...

A shrimp avocado cocktail, barbecued chicken brochettes & chipolata sausages, salad, fresh strawberries and ice cream ...

The weather cooperated ... A delicious lunch was enjoyed and we also had the chance to catch up with some old friends "Ineke and Arie (the Dutch Connection) and the newest member of their family" ...

Meet Douce ...

A beautiful fresh cut flower arrangement from Ineke's garden...

Monsieur Honey used my new camera with it's 26x zoom lens to capture this Engish Robin who decided to stop by for a rest under the Acacia Tree ... see photo below of the tree.

It was a great day to spend out doors and catch up with friends that we don't see often enough.

The French Connection who we first met in Florida in 2001 introduced us to the Dutch Connection in 2004 on one of our visits to France.

Both sets of these friends now live in France full time ... maybe dreams do come true!