Digbydog

>Most péages have at least one staffed booth (pictogram of a guy with a uniform hat) but not all.<

We recently drove from Rocamadour to Uzes via Carcassonne, and I don't think there was more than one staffed booth among the numerous ones we passed through.

TDudette

The discussions distracted me so I waited a while for more TR. So great that your mum has been there so you and your hub could have some time together.

crazyfamilyof4

Wow what a day!

So sad to see my mum go I have loved having her with us! The company we used to take us from Paris to marriott hotel I used to take mum to the airport ... It cost 65euros ... Door to door ... They were going to actually park the car and help her with luggage and check in etc (ill let you know if that happened) regardless the resort said a taxi would be 120eurs so I figure this company does a good deal when I'm on a computer ill cut and paste it for you.

Now I have left Paris if you are curious about where we stayed it was through a la cart Paris and the one we had was titled Marais sublime(again ill do the link when I'm on the computer)

Pros: stunning apartment, everything you need is at your doorstep, had a lift and generally great security

Cons: renovations are happening = entrance/courtyard scaffolded and workmen stuff is about ... This also meant doors were left opened etc , air con seemed to not work the same way as I am used to...I felt it just pushed the air around, although there were two bathrooms only one had a toilet the other toilet was in the common area where the washing machine and dryer was kept. The keys were tricky if you doubled locked the door.

Would i recommend and stay there again??? Absolutely!

Now today ... Far out what a drive! I know, I know we were warned! Can I just say bank god I did Disney till closing with the kids last night! It took us 8 hrs in total ... That included our 2breaks... One lunch break at mc d and one refuel ... The traffic at times was so bad! On that note ... Can someone tell me what is the law in regards to speed ... We kept to the speed limit but noticed cars zooming past ... We were wondering if its allowed in the far right lane.

Anyway our place is so cute ... Sarlat tonight reminded me of Uzes so I'm happy to be back in these sort of places. We can't believe our luck but this weekend has the annual fair so there was a carnival on tonight ... Which was great as our kids slept in the car for a good 4plus hours so they needed a good play to try and get them tired for tonight.

Plans for tomorrow is to do the morning markets ... Check out the tourist info place and hopefully go to a cave or something.

The next day my fingers are crossed I will be able to book a river cruise.

Night everyone

thursdaysd

Glad to hear you made it OK. Enjoy the market!

KL467

I went to the Saturday market in Sarlat on Bastille Day in 2007. It was VERY nice! Have a wonderful time.

michele_d

I remember going to market day in Sarlat. We were roaming up and down the streets and then we came to a small alley where a group of musicians had set up. I must have sat there and listened to them for 20 minutes. It was one of those vacation moments you never plan but the memories will be with us forever.

KL467

I, too, remember the musicians in Sarlat. Oh, what a fun time in France! Also, strawberries have never been the same for my daughter and me after the ones we had at the market in Sarlat on that beautiful Saturday. The best EVER!

bendigo

Applying my documented stalking skills, I guess this is the Paris apartment:
http://www.alacarte-paris-apartments...s-Sublime.html

Seems quite nice, and fairly well located!

crazyfamilyof4

morning bendigo ... Yes that is the one the Uzes one was by a company called French cottages ... They have heaps in Uzes.. Again I will try and sort it out with a link when I get back. Can't wait for these strawberries! They are out favourite fruit

cathies

Hi Claire, I think the far left lane is the fast lane! I hope you just made a typo!

Cathinjoetown

130 km/h is the maximim on the autoroutes, which can drop to 90 around cities or towns, lots of speed cameras about. I got nailed for doing 96 on the Toulouse ring road/peripherique.

The speed also drops when it's raining or roads are wet to 110.

crazyfamilyof4

hi Cathie yep another typo! does it have a speed limit/rule? also whats the deal with motorbikes?

Just got back from the markets ... yep you're are right those strawberries are to die for! I only bought one pack and they were gone by the time we got home so I am heading off later to buy another two packs for us over the next few days.

The plan is drive off to grotte de rouffignac today and tomorrow to do the boat and chateau de castlenaud.

WHat do you think? anything else you feel we should see . . we won't be here Thursday . .do you still think we should look at these gardens?

aussie_10

Yes we loved Sarlat.

We stayed a week so got to enjoy the markets twice.
I am a red berry fiend and ate so many strawberries, raspberries, etc purchased in France, they taste soo much better than our Oz ones.
We did the boat trip on the Dordogne from La Roque Gageac really enjoyed it. The kids will enjoy it. Visited Beynac castle and Castelnaud. The pretty villages of Domme, Belves.

Loved the countryside of the Dordogne and lots of great red wine and duck!

Still enjoying your trip report.
Have fun.

Cathinjoetown

The cars in the passing/overtaking lane are supposed to drive at the speed limit, at least that is my understanding after living here for four years.

Don't know whether you use kilometres or miles in Oz but 130 km is 81 mph.

Some French abuse the speed limit, some tailgate, much more than in the States, ime. Apart from getting caught, at 130 km/h you are already driving at a virtually unsurvivable speed. Of course you could be passing someone who is doing 120 who suddenly accelerates to 130, in which case the safest thing might be to accelerate to get past the fool.

There was a study done once on the German autobahn--two cars left at same time, one was told to observe the speed limits, the second to drive as fast as possible. The drive, all on autobahn, was about 500 km. The second car arrived 15 minutes before the first. Is it worth it?

SusannahT

Kilometres in Oz

bdsbeautyblog

I don't think tours should be given, tbh. These places' status as places of worship trumps any notion of them as tourist attractions imo. But that's my view and clearly others disagree. I also notice that the discussion has moved on in any case.

Claire - people do just drive like maniacs in France, sadly. (And I'm learning to drive here so really have had the pleasure of it.) We have a 20kmph zone in the town where I live, where pedestrians have priority, but it doesn't stop people using it as a race track.

Where are you going after Sarlat?

michele_d

Here is the website for the Marquessac gardens

http://www.marqueyssac.com/index3.html

We walked around during the day and stayed into the evening. I think the kids would enjoy it. They can run free and play. We saw baby goats along the hills and the views over the valley are gorgeous. It's really close to Sarlat so easy for you to pop over for a couple hours if you have time. Don't need to set aside a lot of time for them if you don't have it. Just a unique experience IMO that I really think the kids and you would enjoy. Very stroller friendly also.

kerouac

This might be the most exhausting report that I have ever read on Fodor's.

Cathinjoetown

bdsbeauty,

A bit off topic but then this report is all over the place anyway.

French driver's license--I've been driving on my UK license since we moved here 4 years ago. My understanding is this is valid and no need to swap for a French license unless I'm found guilty of a moving violation. Now, I'm hearing on the expat grapevine that you're meant to change over within a reasonable amount of time. Official French website reveals nothing.

I have a valid US license but could only drive on that for a year after moving here.

I guess I should just pull the info together and do the swap, means a trip to the Toulouse prefecture and my old paper UK license in my maiden name may or may not pass muster.

Our village just spent 100000€ on traffic slow-down, new 30km/h signs that are so small (new regulation size) that no one sees them or if they do, they're ignored. Part of the funds went to relocate the war memorial and of course new sidewalk paving but only in front of the mairie and in front of the houses of two council members!

How are the lessons?

crazyfamilyof4

I think it's great that this tr is more like a live chat room!

Thanks for the tips for tomorrow! I will plan on doing what was mentioned ... Also thanks about the driving ... We are finding it a tad stressful between the blind spots in the hills and the people who are going way over the speed limit and make you feel like you're in the way etc so good to know.

Now onto today!

As you know we spent the morning doing the markets ... They are great but incredibly busy in comparison to Uzes. The fruit and nougat was again to die for! Never got around to going back for more typical!

After a little rest back home we headed off to

Les Grottes du Roc de Cazelle

I thought this was sensational! Really enjoyed it and so did the kids! For those who don't know about it basically they have created what the chronological history of the site and its inhabitants were through scenes. Yes you can take a stroller but as you can imagine its not really that stroller friendly but we managed

From here we went to

Chateau des Milandes

Also really enjoyed it here. Basically it is a 15th century chateau furnished as when it was occupied by Josephine Baker and you get to read about her life etc . The French garden were gorgeous and the kids loved watching the birds of prey show that was on at 5:30pm. If you are going try and get there before 4pm so you can enjoy some nibbles in the cafe ( kitchen closes at 4pm but you can still get ice cream and desert after)

My bloody GPS keeps taking us on the weirdest ways and at times a little scary so I am going to have to look into that!

Again we stopped by the local supermarket for the kids dinner and some champagne and nibbles for us and we had a picnic tea with the kids then got them into bed early(well before 9pm) then hubby and I enjoyed sitting outside on the balcony eating our market paella and finishing off the champagne.

Love love love having a car! We have the ford citymax5 I think. Perfect size for us.

Ok keep up the tips ... From here we continue south with only a night in carcassone before driving into Barcelona.