Spring is here, or so they say…….

blossom beside the Dordogne at Port Ste Foy

After days of strong gusting winds and rain, the clouds finally parted to show off a bit of blue sky. So off we went to visit some friends newly arrived from Australia and staying on the Lot river to the south of us.

Lots of trees are in blossom, those fields with crops already sown are a bright green , interspersed with those of rich, freshly tilled soil. Probably corn or sunflowers will appear before long.  And the vines have been pruned ready for that first flush of leaves that should be here in the next few weeks. Despite most trees still being bare, the countryside does look lovely in the sunshine.

I just love the signs in these old villages

anyone for a coffee ?

or a beer ?

We joined our friends for lunch at a typical routier’s café ( truck drivers, that is). You are always advised to watch out for a café surrounded by trucks at lunch time. This is the sign of good cooking offered at a reasonable price. No such thing as takeaway food for our truckies. There are 3 courses for a set price and no choice. A salad starter from the buffet, a main of hachis parmentier au boudin ( a version of shepherd’s pie but made with black pudding this time), and a selection of desserts, all served with a basket of bread, a bottle of water and a carafe of wine, and for the princely sum of €15.00 each. The dishes are declared to be  made freshly in house and were delicious.

one of the original gateways into the village
tucked away beside the church

the Pujols coat of arms

Next, off to visit a local “Plus beau village de France”. Pujols is a medieval hilltop town in the Lot et Garonne. There is also a Pujols in the Gironde near us, but that is another story. It was very quiet on this particular day except for the commune workers cleaning and preparing for the summer rush of tourists and the owner of the local restaurant setting up his courtyard dining area and filling pots with flowers.

one of the commune staff hard at work

lots of colombage on the local houses (timber and brick work)

not sure what the cauldrons are for ...

love that restoration includes medieval style doors

another gateway, the Porte des Anglais

And at our saturday morning market in Ste Foy la Grande, the flower seller has returned. 

this flower seller specialises in 'meadow'  and 'wild' flowers rather than the usual cultivated varieties. This week he has acacia (wattle to australians) and magnolia. and they're selling fast

Summer can’t be far away.

Bon week-end à tous