The summer arrivals have begun…

you have to watch your step on the steep,
 cobblestoned streets of St Emilion

Last weekend, we enjoyed the first of our visitors from Australia for the year. This time  they came from Canberra , a place where we also lived for a time, long ago. They brought with them glorious weather and the intention of enjoying every moment of their holiday.

always popular for lunch in the shade in the square in St Emilion

After an early start by them in Paris, we collected them from Bordeaux station and set off for St Emilion, as one does. Lots of tourists already, though this may have been because May is the month of public holidays in France. If you’ve heard of  “le pont” then you will know what I mean. Tuesday and thursday are holidays this week, so many people are taking monday and friday off (le pont to les week-ends ) and then why turn up for work for just one day , so take wednesday as well. A neat little extra petites vacances  which explains the crowds everywhere we went . 

just smell them !

Next day we took our usual stroll around the saturday morning  market at Sainte Foy la Grande since it’s just a five minute walk away.  The perfume of fresh strawberries now in season is heady and mounds of artichokes and green and white asparagus remind us it is spring. A few more English voices amongst the crowds tell us that the ‘summer people’  have also started to arrive.

a performance at the Récollets Cloisters

someone is not really interested in the show

there is a variety of architectural styles in the old town centre

An afternoon discovering the old town centre in Bergerac, which was hosting a music festival, and then the Chateau of Monbazillac for the fabulous view of the Dordogne valley.

new leaves on the vines

doesn't this roof decoration remind you of a 'fascinator" ?

and the vines go on for miles around

Sunday, a leisurely drive  along the riverside through lovely villages like Lalinde and St Cyprien to Beynac et Cazenac where the houses are piled up between the river and the cliff and the chateau watches over all in the curve of the river. A few people already out canoeing for that unique view of the countryside and others taking the easy way on a gabarre, the traditional boat used for transporting goods by water all the way to Bordeaux.

the chateau of La Roque-Gageac has stood guard over
 the river since the 12th century

one of the many cute little restaurants

just look at those stairs leading up the cliff behind the restaurant

taking a cruise in a gabarre

 Then on to the Vezere valley, famous for it’s prehistory. La Roque St Christophe  is the longest troglodyte settlement in Europe. It is one kilometre long and has been inhabited since prehistoric times, an estimated 55,000 years. At one time a thousand people lived here and, in medieval times, it was also a fort.

what the town would have looked like in medieval times

glorious view of the Vezere valley

the 'shelf' as it looks now without the house facades

what a fabulous setting it is

only one way to bring everything up to this level 

a peaceful little spot to rest from all that paddling

Next day , as our visitors were flying off to their next stop, we took them in to Bordeaux to finish off their visit. Another glorious day and the ‘fountain’ at le miroir d’eau  was working so lots of people splashing about.  Those cafes that were open (remember le pont) were busy with holidaymakers and rue Ste Catherine was heaving with the usual mixture of tourists and students.

Thank you to our wonderful guests. You are always welcome back.

Now we prepare for the next arrivals.   

the roses from our garden are already proving to be amazing this year
 - and the perfume !

 jours heureux à vous tous