Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Day 31 – gardens and pre-history

Larry has told us that the majority of local folk are old – many in their 80s and 90s. “It's all the goose fat and red wine keeping them going,” he reckons. “And the fact they don't have a stressful lifestyle.”


We've come across a few of the neighbours, including the widow next door who gets around in a 'house coat' – think 'house sac'.

This is all explains why when we visit the local market in the morning the goods for sale are all aimed at the geriatric market – men's wear including suspenders, flannel shirts, handkerchiefs, suits; women's wear including house coats, girdles, passion=killing underwear, comfy shoes. The other big item is plastic flower arrangements and furniture. Obviously a lot of these locals never leave the village so this is their monthly opportunity to buy goods other than food.


We drive to Les Eyzies take two for a visit to the Museum of Prehistory. An interesting visit even though we have to guess the explanations of many of the exhibits as they are all in French. This area is very rich in evidence of prehistoric man living in the many caves around the area.


It's raining when we come out of the museum so we decide to lunch.


Over to Sue:

"We all choose menu of the day for the ridiculously low price of 11 euros.  Alan has the onion and egg white soup, Lee a toasted sandwhich with an exotic French name, and I have a seafood mousse.  We all have coq au vin, with potato bake, grilled tomato and onions.  We finish off with walnut tart and a pannacotta.  All quite satisfactory." 


After lunch, still raining, we visit Les Jardins suspendus de Marqueyssac – sprawling parklike gardens in the 19th century French garden style, extending over a km on a spur overlooking the Dordogne valley. Quite remarkable!



No comments:

Post a Comment