Dordogne, San Sebastian, bilbao.
Sep 10th, 2015, 06:15 PM
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Dordogne, San Sebastian, bilbao.
We're going to these places. In fact, we've started. Right now we're in the United club lounge because we have a united credit card. In the United club you can get a free drink and soup. DW and I got a rum coke and garden vegetable soup. We fly from dulles to Dublin to Bordeaux and then drive to our rental house near tremolat. In french, you don't pronounce the last t. We gladly accept all suggestions. We plan to see StCirq and her husband. They know how to pronounce Tremolat.
Sep 11th, 2015, 12:55 PM
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ImDone, thanks. Robert25, yes, but that's what makes this so exciting. We've arrived.
http://www.vrbo.com/79727
We're staying at this house with friends we met playing volleyball in DC when we were 20 somethings. Now we're 60 somethings.
DW and I were the last to arrive so we got the crummy bedroom but crummy here isn't really crummy.
We've been up a long time. I wish I could sleep on a plane. We heard Irish accents in the Dublin airport. We eschewed insurance on the rental car from europcar in Bordeaux.
We stopped in Bergiac at a brasserie for some salad with pate and speckles of meat DW thought was gamey. So we asked for a carryout container to take leftovers back to the house. The lady looked at us oddly, but brought us Tupperware for the leftovers. The concept of a doggy bag isn't easy to explain to french people when you don't speak french.
We were effusively grateful and left a big tip. There are many windy dark roads between Bergiac and Tremolat. But the stars at night are spectacular.
http://www.vrbo.com/79727
We're staying at this house with friends we met playing volleyball in DC when we were 20 somethings. Now we're 60 somethings.
DW and I were the last to arrive so we got the crummy bedroom but crummy here isn't really crummy.
We've been up a long time. I wish I could sleep on a plane. We heard Irish accents in the Dublin airport. We eschewed insurance on the rental car from europcar in Bordeaux.
We stopped in Bergiac at a brasserie for some salad with pate and speckles of meat DW thought was gamey. So we asked for a carryout container to take leftovers back to the house. The lady looked at us oddly, but brought us Tupperware for the leftovers. The concept of a doggy bag isn't easy to explain to french people when you don't speak french.
We were effusively grateful and left a big tip. There are many windy dark roads between Bergiac and Tremolat. But the stars at night are spectacular.
Sep 13th, 2015, 05:47 AM
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Good morning. Bonjour. Yesterday we shopped at the big Intermarche in Le Bugue and went to two caves there.
Some of us did. But I decided to wander through town instead, since later in the week we're going to the famous caves at Lescaux. Faux caves, but still very cool, I'm told.
I bought a nice little framed picture of Beynac for two euros and two minature masks from Venice for one euro. The lady selling these things was very friendly and enthusiastic about these items.
I also bought an electric extension cord so we can charge our phone and turn the light on in our room at the same time.
I apologize that there is very little news here that you can use, but it's only our first day.
We went to dinner at Les Truffieres, a lovely restaurant next to our rental house, just outside of tremolat. There were many courses, the restaurant was lovely, the food perfect.
Although I have to admit, I'm not crazy about duck. Which is what people like to eat here. I hope this confession doesn't enrage any of you, but I can understand that it may.
Oh, and this morning we started with breakfast at a nice little restaurant next to the famous bistro across from the fancy hotel and restaurant in Tremolat. Le Vieux Logis.
The nice lady there taught me how to say water without gas (oh plat). I like french people even though they are difficult to understand sometimes since, as I mentioned earlier, they speak french.
I like the french word for water (eau, which is pronounced 'oh').
Tomorrow we go to the Sunday market in Issarez and call our fodorite friends StCirq and RunningTab. More news you can use will surely follow.
Www.auberge-les-truffieres.fr
Some of us did. But I decided to wander through town instead, since later in the week we're going to the famous caves at Lescaux. Faux caves, but still very cool, I'm told.
I bought a nice little framed picture of Beynac for two euros and two minature masks from Venice for one euro. The lady selling these things was very friendly and enthusiastic about these items.
I also bought an electric extension cord so we can charge our phone and turn the light on in our room at the same time.
I apologize that there is very little news here that you can use, but it's only our first day.
We went to dinner at Les Truffieres, a lovely restaurant next to our rental house, just outside of tremolat. There were many courses, the restaurant was lovely, the food perfect.
Although I have to admit, I'm not crazy about duck. Which is what people like to eat here. I hope this confession doesn't enrage any of you, but I can understand that it may.
Oh, and this morning we started with breakfast at a nice little restaurant next to the famous bistro across from the fancy hotel and restaurant in Tremolat. Le Vieux Logis.
The nice lady there taught me how to say water without gas (oh plat). I like french people even though they are difficult to understand sometimes since, as I mentioned earlier, they speak french.
I like the french word for water (eau, which is pronounced 'oh').
Tomorrow we go to the Sunday market in Issarez and call our fodorite friends StCirq and RunningTab. More news you can use will surely follow.
Www.auberge-les-truffieres.fr
Sep 14th, 2015, 12:54 PM
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Yesterday we went to the farmers market and bought chicken, potatoes, green beans, brought them home, fixed dinner, ate dinner, and watched The Butcher, a strange french movie filmed right here in Tremolat. I'm not giving away too much to tell you the butler didn't do it.
Today we went to Beynac, where a big castle perches high above the dordogne river (I think it's the dordogne, but there's another river here too) and you can high up in the highest tower and think about shooting your crossbow at people.
Then we went to Sarlat and had lunch and thought about people hundreds and hundreds of years ago walking by the same place we were.
Then we visited StCirq and her husband Running Tab who are renovating a beautiful house with a pool on a hill near Le Bugue which was supposed to be finished in May but isn't. They fixed us a wonderful dinner and helped us back out of the driveway.
That's what we've done so far. Tomorrow we go kayaking on the river and go to Lescaux (cave).
Today we went to Beynac, where a big castle perches high above the dordogne river (I think it's the dordogne, but there's another river here too) and you can high up in the highest tower and think about shooting your crossbow at people.
Then we went to Sarlat and had lunch and thought about people hundreds and hundreds of years ago walking by the same place we were.
Then we visited StCirq and her husband Running Tab who are renovating a beautiful house with a pool on a hill near Le Bugue which was supposed to be finished in May but isn't. They fixed us a wonderful dinner and helped us back out of the driveway.
That's what we've done so far. Tomorrow we go kayaking on the river and go to Lescaux (cave).
Sep 15th, 2015, 09:08 AM
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My goodness it's good to be in my nice warm bed resting up for dinner. We went kayaking on the dordogne today. It was very pleasant except for the rain. Also DW had a little trouble navigating straight down river and instead went from side to side, getting twice as much paddling as anyone else. Its difficult to tell somebody how to paddle. Then we went to lascaux caves which were remarkable, although rather crowded and cold. I like heated prehistoric caves when I'm soaked from kayaking in the rain, but I understand things were tough back in prehistoric times, so it helped me empathize. Tomorrow, in order to build readership, I'll be including pictures of naked women.
Sep 15th, 2015, 10:35 AM
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Following along, santamonica. Please no pics of naked women! Maybe kitties or puppies?
We'll be in Sarlat for 5 nights in a couple of weeks. I hope we can do the canoe trip in better weather than y'all!
"I'm not crazy about duck." LOL. I am practically a vegetarian so am hoping there are lots of other options on menus!
We'll be in Sarlat for 5 nights in a couple of weeks. I hope we can do the canoe trip in better weather than y'all!
"I'm not crazy about duck." LOL. I am practically a vegetarian so am hoping there are lots of other options on menus!
Sep 15th, 2015, 01:54 PM
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Sep 15th, 2015, 11:55 PM
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Nola77382, suggest you bring along a jar of peanut butter! We are currently in the Dordogne and have commented several times that our vegetarian friends would have slim pickings on the menus here - salad and frites perhaps? Though I think we saw a Vietnamese restaurant in Sarlat so that might be a possibility.
Sep 16th, 2015, 05:40 AM
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the photo is purrfect, santamonica!
Thanks for the suggestion, janeog. I usually make do with salads and as many French fries as I can handle--they're so much better than what we get at home! Plus the pastries and gelato. I'm hungry, now.
Thanks for the suggestion, janeog. I usually make do with salads and as many French fries as I can handle--they're so much better than what we get at home! Plus the pastries and gelato. I'm hungry, now.
Sep 16th, 2015, 01:41 PM
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Today we slept late, then drove off looking for lunch at a restaurant in Paunat next to an abby (chez julien) which was closed because the french don't serve food just any old time but only when they think it should be served. Then we drove to Lalind and went to another cafe that didn't serve food just any old time and bought two beers which you can buy just any old time.
Then (perhaps too many sentences starting with then?) we shopped. I bought pants which were too long. I bought them because tomorrow we go to Vieux Logis, a fancy restaurant in Tremolat with one Michelin star and my friends are concerned about my blue jeans, which are clean but well worn.
The new pants are too long because, I'm told, pants in france come only in one length and are hemmed to fit. Hemming cost $5. I pick the pants up tomorrow and will then go to the weekly thursday market in Lalind where I may be able to buy a used jacket which will go nicely with my new pants.
Kayaking suggestion: we went to 'Canoes Vacances' near Beynac where you can see all the castles and chateaux whilst paddling. You'll be drier if you take a canoe rather than a kayak.
Tomorrow is our last day in Tremolat. Then we go by train from Bordeaux to the parador in Hondarribia, then an airbnb apt near the beach in San Sebastian, and then some little botique hotel in Bilbao.
Next, maybe pictures of spanish kittens.
Then (perhaps too many sentences starting with then?) we shopped. I bought pants which were too long. I bought them because tomorrow we go to Vieux Logis, a fancy restaurant in Tremolat with one Michelin star and my friends are concerned about my blue jeans, which are clean but well worn.
The new pants are too long because, I'm told, pants in france come only in one length and are hemmed to fit. Hemming cost $5. I pick the pants up tomorrow and will then go to the weekly thursday market in Lalind where I may be able to buy a used jacket which will go nicely with my new pants.
Kayaking suggestion: we went to 'Canoes Vacances' near Beynac where you can see all the castles and chateaux whilst paddling. You'll be drier if you take a canoe rather than a kayak.
Tomorrow is our last day in Tremolat. Then we go by train from Bordeaux to the parador in Hondarribia, then an airbnb apt near the beach in San Sebastian, and then some little botique hotel in Bilbao.
Next, maybe pictures of spanish kittens.
Sep 17th, 2015, 11:26 AM
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A kitten woke us up this morning. Really. It jumped through the open window, on to the bed, and nuzzled my face until I woke up. A calico cat. 6am. The landlord, Janice, knows the cat and had been petting it the night before, so I didn't feel endangered. Sorta cool way to wake up, even for dog people. DW made me put the cat outside so she could sleep some more.
After coffee we drove to Lalinde to collect my pants and see the outdoor market. I bought a light jacket, but it was new, so no great bargain, but I like it.
Then (that word again) we went to the Vieux Logis for lunch. Incredible. Fantastic. Really good. Seven or eight courses. Little portions, but exquisite. And the gardens are very pretty. Fresh apples. If you are near Tremolat you should try and eat here. The rooms are quite expensive.
After lunch our little group played boule on the town courts, drove to a nice overlook of the dordogne, fixed leftovers for dinner, and packed.
I'm not sure if all this sounds very exciting, but it's been fun. And I know some of you would appreciate the calico kitten.
Tomorrow DW and I leave the group. We'll see a little of Bordeaux and (hopefully) catch a train to Hendaye, which is next to our parador in Spain.
All sorts of interesting things could happen tomorrow.
After coffee we drove to Lalinde to collect my pants and see the outdoor market. I bought a light jacket, but it was new, so no great bargain, but I like it.
Then (that word again) we went to the Vieux Logis for lunch. Incredible. Fantastic. Really good. Seven or eight courses. Little portions, but exquisite. And the gardens are very pretty. Fresh apples. If you are near Tremolat you should try and eat here. The rooms are quite expensive.
After lunch our little group played boule on the town courts, drove to a nice overlook of the dordogne, fixed leftovers for dinner, and packed.
I'm not sure if all this sounds very exciting, but it's been fun. And I know some of you would appreciate the calico kitten.
Tomorrow DW and I leave the group. We'll see a little of Bordeaux and (hopefully) catch a train to Hendaye, which is next to our parador in Spain.
All sorts of interesting things could happen tomorrow.
Sep 17th, 2015, 12:22 PM
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Aww, what a lovely way to wake up! A little too early, but still lovely.
Vieux Logis sounds fantastic. I wish we had more time in the Dordogne area because we cannot fit it in this trip. I have started playing bocce and would love to find a town court and try my hand at boules!
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Vieux Logis sounds fantastic. I wish we had more time in the Dordogne area because we cannot fit it in this trip. I have started playing bocce and would love to find a town court and try my hand at boules!
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
