We spent Saturday and Sunday in Lalinde. We ate breakfast at the hotel, and they had something like yogurt, but different, and OH SO GOOD! We learned it was "Fromage Blanc" and I hope I can find it back home.
Rick and I then took a walk around town and by the Dordogne River.
Buildings in Lalinde along the river.
Across the bridge is called St. Front. We hiked up a hill to this little 12th century church
A panoramic view from up by the church, looking down on Lalinde
We went to Lalinde to visit my friend Jean-Pierre, who has muscular dystrophy. I have known him for 15 years already! In this picture is Rick, Jean-Pierre's dad (whose name is also Jean-Pierre), then Jean-Pierre, and his wife Nancy. We had a great lunch with foie gras and wonderful wine. Jean-Pierre's house is right on the Dordogne River - a home built in the late 1500's. The walls are 3 feet thick stone, with a huge fireplace and wood beams on the ceiling. The floor is made of stones - like you may find outside in a street. They originally were just set in dirt, but they pulled them out and reset them in something more stable! It's a really awesome home to see!
A view of the fireplace
After lunch Rick and I took a walk across another bridge in Lalinde. It actually leads to right across the river from Jean-Pierre's house. There are cliffs there, and you can see buildings here in the cliffs. This was the site of a very major paper making industry way back when. Some of these buildings were used to dry the paper and other things. They were originally Troglodyte caves.
How about your garage being a cave!
You can see the front of this house is just like a facade in front of the rock.
Wow! They even have air conditioning!
I saw this window on another building there. Had to get this picture - this is absolutely the coolest window I've ever seen!
In the town of Couze-St.-Front, across from Lalinde.
Just a few minutes from Lalinde is the Chateau de Lanquais
On Sunday morning, after a recommendation from the owner of our hotel, we drove to the walled, medieval town of Issigeac, where they have an extensive market all throughout the historic center. It oozed quaintness and history, and we felt like we were on a movie set. I can just picture this same market going on during medieval times. Hmmm I wonder if they ever have a Renaissance Faire here??
The Issigeac Sunday market
The Issigeac Sunday market. We bought some beautiful tomatoes - they smelled of a real tomato and tasted wonderful! Why can't we have tomatoes like that anymore back home?
The Issigeac Sunday market. Me looking at some cheese.
Rick on a street in Issigeac.
Issigeac
Last note on Issigeac. For as nice of a town that it was, the only negative were the public toilets. I don't think they've updated them since the middle ages....ugh. We had to have a drink at a cafe in order to get a bathroom stop.
This is in the town of Limeuil, which we drove to later in the day. It is found at the convergence of the Vezere and the Dordogne rivers, and is on the list of "One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France". I know this town is even more beautiful when everything is open and all the flowers are out.
Limeuil. I walked past this very old house, and I spotted this spout. I imagine that at one time it was the drain for the kitchen sink!
Limeuil. A little barn with a cat sitting nearby. Just a cute picture!
Limeuil. Look at the town from gardens further up the hill. At the top of this hill used to be a castle, but it had been destroyed long ago.
Limeuil
Limeuil, view from the bridge.
Limeuil, a panoramic.
Limeuil
Jean-Pierre and Nancy in the historic living room
Jean-Pierre and Me!
Rick, Jean-Pierre, Nancy, and Gail
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