Assorted question about Dordogne trip
 

I'm trying to pin down some of the details I don't understand or that need pr-booking, so here we go:

1) Sarlat 4 days routing

Wednesday 9/16:
11 am Font de Gaume English tour - booked and paid (not what we wanted but what we got) Any one want to buy these tickets?? so we can book a better day for us?
then lunch in Les Eyzes at Le Vieux Moulin
then museum of Pre history 2-3ish pm
then about 3:30 drive to Beynac castle and town OR catch falcon show at Chateau Milandes at 4:30
drive to our hotel in Sarlat and settle in
best to have dinner near/in Sarlat

Thursday 9/17
sarlat to carlux - jardins Ezyrgnac tour
lascaux visit
St Leon a Vezere, La Roque Chrisophe
???

Friday 9/18
walk around Sarlat or ????
late afternoon 3-7 walk around Domme, La Roque Gageac, Beynac castle & town
then dinner in one of above towns

7/19 Saturday
Sarlat market am, pack lunch from market then go
2-3 hrs canoe trip
then Chateau Castlenaud and gardens

what should we add or delete or combine in the above planning?

Sarlat area dining 4 days ( time is not expandable but stomach sure is)
We have 4 evenings in Sarlat. I have anrrowed down our choices and wonder which 4 of the above would provide variety in setting, ambience, menus, preparation styles, service. We don't want the same "Hollywood set" or tourist intensive dinner every evening. Keep in mind, we hope to return to the states, no larger than two baby water buffalos.

Presidial in Sarlat vs L’Esplanade in Domme,
La Plume d’Oie in Roque Gageac
Le Relais des Cinque Chateaux - Vezac
La Treille - Vitrac
Le Bonnet- Beynac
Have we overlooked any "to die for" meals/venues?

7/20 Sun:day
drive from Sarlat to lodging in Mercues ( 3 miles from Cahors)
routing Sarlat south:
for reasons too complex to explain, the only opportunity to visit Monpazier is on a Sunday enroute to Cahors area from Sarlat. We could drive to Monpanzier, then Bonaguil visit, then go to Mercues b and b (where we're staying, 3 miles from Cahors). Are the above towns likely to be dead on Sunday?
An alternate route might be Sarlat, Gourdon to Figeac and then backtrack to Mercues.
If Pech Merle- Cabrertes- St. Cirq, etc are "alive" on Sunday, that's another possibility.
Suggestions svp.
Where are some recommended dining spots in the above region for Sunday and Monday lunches and/or dinners?

Merci boucoup mis amis

I don't understand your jibberish !!! Please translate!!!

Stu Dudley
From San Gabriel ('47-'71)

I'm trying to inquire 1) if the daily grouping of activities for our 4 days staying in Sarlat is reasonable; 2) about dining recommendations for Sarlat area among the above list and 3) recommended routing from Sarlat to Cahors area on a Sunday. Sorry for my incoherence, Stu and others.

can't help u, but I thought it was clear!

I wouldn't go out of my way to dine at the Hotel Bonnet. Much better places abound, including La Table du Terroir in La Chapelle-Aubareil, near Montignac, and L'Esplanade in Domme.

I would group your visit to Castelnaud with the falcon show at Les Milandes, as they're practically next door to each other.

I doubt things will be hopping anywhere on a Sunday n September unless there's a brocante or foire de livres or something, so I'd just plan whatever route you're comfortable with. Personally, I'd want to see Monpazier, but really, unless there's something going on there, a visit will take you all of a half-hour at most.

When we were there in June, the Bonnet was closed - permantly.

Monday is tight if you have a "sit-down" lunch.

On the way to Mercues, Cazals has a nice Sunday market if you want to visit a less touristy market.

Peche Merle & St Cirq Lapopie would certainly be worth visiting too. I've never visited St Cirq on a Sunday - but it seems like the kind of town (touristy) that has all the shops open on Sunday.

One of the owners of Plume d'Oie was VERY sick when we were there. Call ahead to reserve & confirm that they are sill in business.

La Treille has "dumbed down" their menu - concentrating on beef.

We like le Presidial and Grand Bleu in Sarlat.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu and St. Cirq. FYI Mark at La Plume d'Oie says he's fine and ready to welcome us in mid September.

It's his wife that is sick. He handeled EVERYTHING by himself when we were there. Glad to see he's doing OK - hope his wife recovers.

Stu Dudley

Hiddie (Mark's wife) has passed away, unfortunately. We hear he is still "doing it all" himself and plan to dine there sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Le Bonnet is, indeed, closed.
Cabanoix et Chataigne in Domme, and Relais de Cinq Chateaux in Vezac, are both open on Mondays ("normalement"). Always call ahead to be sure.
Second the motion (from Stu) to dine at Le Grande Bleu in Sarlat.