The Grand Prix in Olonzac ...

#LeCorre#MamGoz#Olonzac

Oh my ... this is the first time we slept in late since we have been on this adventure.

Monsieur Honey awoke and silently closed the bedroom doors or so he thought. 

               

I heard him and I crawled out of bed at 9:45AM (I haven't slept in that late in ages) and Monsieur only got up fifteen minutes earlier.

Some coffee and Monsieur was out the door.

There was a vide grenier in Olonzac today.

It might not have been a good idea to let "Monsieur" go on his own.

He returned today telling me he had bought a house ... I asked where and he said "I'm not sure".

Actually it was a deed to a property ... seriously!

He also purchased a couple other little treasures in his eyes ...

A tin box ... After some internet research it appears to be vintage "Le Corre"  Mam Goz character ... stamped Massilly, France on the bottom.

Later in the day ... he visited one of the local cafés to watch the Formula 1 race.

Today was one of those hot, humid and hazy days of Summer, a day like when I was a young child we would run through the lawn sprinkler to cool off  ... I decided to seek out a shady, cool place in the local park ... a beautiful place complete with tennis courts, children's playground, plenty of benches in shady areas, Rose covered trellis pathways leading from one area to another and a water pond.

Here all the wildlife played happily together...

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 ).