FINAL DAY IN PARIS

First comes the pesky packing part. 

One suitcase of clean clothes,

one suitcase of stuff that didn't get washed !

Jam it all in. 

Who cares now we are on our way home ?

Then off we set to stroll the streets of the Marais district where we are beginning to feel right at home.

There's always something new to find around every corner.

Today we headed towards the well known Place des Voges which we have not visited before even though it is just down the end of the street ( sort of ).

Past lots of interesting shops 

and cafes

and through open gates 

we stumbled onto several lovely little gardens 

Like the Jardin de Anne Frank

Or this one

where people can be seen lingering in the warm sunshine eating lunch or reading,

soaking up those golden rays and storing their warmth against the cold times ahead.

The Place des Voges looked lovely in its Autumn colours, its beautiful buildings surrounding the square.

There were lots of people - young and old sitting in the sun and shade

and of course, an artist- dressed perfectly for the part - at work at his easel under the trees near the statue in the centre of the square.

We soaked it up,

storing the memories till we visit again.

Oh Paris, how will we ever settle back down to life in Brissy ?

Au Revoir ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

ALWAYS SOMEWHERE NEW TO EXPLORE IN PARIS

Although the day started out cloudy we set out to explore a part of Paris we have never been to before.

We popped up out of the Metro and there was a wonderful food market right in front of us.

We had skipped breakfast hoping to enjoy a coffee and pastry in a little cafe somewhere but instead we opted for a punnet of blackberries and half a dozen black figs ( a new favourite since Sarlat ) and nibbled as we strolled along.

That's what is so special about this lovely city, there are hidden treasures all around.

A bit of research and we had set out to explore the area around the Canal St Matin.

The clouds began to lift as we walked along beside the canal.

Some sections are wider than others

and some surrounding streets are nicer than others

but the canal itself remains very pretty all the way, criss-crossed in many places by pretty iron bridges.

It really was a pretty walk with the trees just beginning to drop their leaves but many still retaining their green canopy.

The day had turned sunny and clear

giving us lots of wonderful photo opportunities

and to top it all off  we watched a tour boat move through a lock

a sight not experienced by many Aussies

Not our first experience but always interesting to watch.

Water level just right, the the gates open 

and onwards sails the tour boat ! 

Brilliant !

Another lovely day !

Cheers.

OK, THIS IS IT ! I'M NEVER GOING HOME !

  In recent years we have done a bit of travelling.

We've spent three weeks in the Cotswolds driving and walking through picture postcard villages. 

We've followed the "Black and White Trail" in Shropshire.

We've climbed through many hilltop villages in Provence,

wandered through the old town in Annecy and strolled along its pristine lake .....

but  Sarlat wins the prize  for the prettiest village we've ever seen !

It's constructed of a beautiful honey coloured stone reminiscent of the golden Cotswold stone.

Perfectly preserved in its Medieval grandeur it sits quietly in the Perigord Noir region of France.

Hugely popular with tourists, more than two million visit this spectacular little town each Summer.

Luckily for us the season is drawing to a close and the tourist numbers have dropped to a trickle making the experience for us a very special one.

Waiters and merchants have time to spend talking and joking with us and it is these little moments that make a visit so memorable.

We've wandered the little streets and narrow laneways lined with restaurants where the preoccupation with all things "duck"  could make dining out a trifle repetitive.

We've eaten LOTS of duck dishes, 

sampled and devoured delightful cheeses, 

and lashed out on another slab of nougat !

We've shopped at markets and purchased odd looking tomatoes

luscious figs and the best strawberries you've ever tasted

Using our finds to make a simple, delicious lunch fit for a king.

But we haven't spent all our time eating !

Oh no! 

We've explored the surrounding countryside to reveal more pretty villages

And the most stupendous views you can imagine.

from the village of Domme, high above the Dordogne River.

Two more days here the we move onto Paris.

A bientot !

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A DESERT TO ME !

F

This is a map of a small village called Guilhem-Le-Desert not far from Pezenas.

It is situated in a valley/ ravine with high hills/mountains on each side and a small stream running through it to the larger river below. 

A large car park at the top of the village attests to its popularity with tourists and you enter at the large village square dominated by a HUGE old plane tree towards the top of the village.

A plaque on the tree says it is 175 years old !

To explore the village you just wander down the narrow lane towards the river.

At this time of year most of the tourists are gone and you have the place to yourselves.

Ancient buildings lean in on every side and spots of greenery and the odd remaining flower break up all that stone and make it very pretty.

The sky is blue and the sun is still very warm but sometimes it can get get a bit cool in the shade of these high walls.

The sound of water leads you to the small stream that tumbles through the village.

This is the back of the Abbey and their kitchen garden which of course had the obligatory grape vines as well as vegetables and roses.

Then you take another fork as you wander back to the top

To join the rest of the visitors in doing what the French do best .....LUNCH !

Au revoir