Dordogne Valley

We visited this area in 1980 and wanted to return. We turned up at our B&B to find that our hosts had forgotten we were coming. It's very much low season in the area and it was difficult to find an open restaurant but we found a boulangerie and bought some food.

The next morning we had a very French-style breakfast with vast cups of coffee. The croissants were warm and the best we have had on the trip so far.

The owners had two dogs who appeared every time we appeared. The lady of the house kindly volunteered to bung our dirty clothes in the washer.

The river in flood.

Beynec. It's one of the prettiest villages in the Dordogne.

Market place.

Normally, this town would be very crowded, but on a dull cold day in February, just a few visitors, Most shops were shut.

Domme

One of the most interesting towns in the Dordogne Valley is Domme which is built on a cliff overlooking the river.

It was quite cold and damp with just a few tourists.

Notice how the upper front of the church is just a facade.

It was almost pitch black inside but the phone camera produced this.

When we visited years ago, a wedding took place and the path to the church was marked out in leaves. What a lovely custom.

The only open shop was a book seller.

This is a vine.

You can see the pattern in the prior photo.

It was lunchtime and no restaurants appeared to be open in Domme, so we returned to Beynac.

We found a lovely place by the river.

Still flooding. The restaurant's terrace was underwater.

We had the lunch of the day, goose, duck, and a dessert.

The goose was very solid and filling. I think it's the first time I have eaten goose. Fois gras is popular here.

Way too much food, but superb.

Somehow we managed to force it down.

The above two photos come from a trip back in 1980, when we went to a viewpoint named Tremolat. Since it was close to where we were staying, I thought I would like to see it again.

Unfortunately, a lot of trees can grow in forty-four years so the view was mostly obscured. Quite a few houses had been built in the intervening years to take advantage of the view.

Two dinners in Carcassonne

We say we come to France for the scenery but we really come for the food.

Two duck cassoulets which are a specialty of the Carcassonne area. We could not finish them. The Brasserie was just around the corner from our B&B.

If you would like to try making a cassoulet, this is an interesting recipe that I tried. It worked pretty well but I could not achieve the special topping.

The next night it was cold and rainy.

The bread comes in a paper bag.

Liver and potato mash. I hadn't had liver in 60 years. Delicious!

Chicken and rice for Marianne. The owner also owns a two-star restaurant.

Pamplemouse dessert. I had a small taste. Everything was delicious and we were quite full.