We woke up to a hearty breakfast served by Tony at La Theroniere. He gave us quite specific directions for a walk nearby. We took off with directions and camera in hand, up a hill, turn next to a house on the left, past a chateau... to a little chapel in the woods. Then downhill, to the left, and on and on. The sun started to peak through the fog of morning and the hillsides and fields covered in vineyards sparkled. It was beautiful!
We drove to Cahors for their Saturday market, just as it was near to closing at noon. We got in the longest line to pick up some lunch and had fresh pizza, then we picked up more pastries. We discovered a little treat, cannelle, apple cakes that get crunchy on the outside with a moist morsel of apple inside. Yum! We peaked inside the old cathedral, St. Etienne, on the market square. St. Etienne was built in the 10th century and had theater boxes. Interesting. We walked to Pont Velantre across the Lot and the most photographed bridge in France.
We drove the long way back to La Theroniere, along the south side of the Lot, stopping in Luzech with it's ruined castle and 13th century eglise. Then to Albas, high above the river. We could hear a group of children and then we saw them briefly, marching down the street in Halloween costumes. We hiked up to the cathedral and saw a man dressed as a witch, waiting for the children to come by for goodies. It was a village party.
We stopped at Belaye, with it's castle ruin atop a hill. Belaye has quite incredible views above a turn in the Lot, and vineyards as far as the eye can see.
Down below Belaye, we saw a castle ruin that intrigued us. It's too far deteriorated for us to tackle, but what fun it would be! We found out from Tony that it was a Gestapo headquarters during WWII.
We came back to La Theroniere by 5 and enjoyed chatting with Tony and Caren over coffee. It's interesting to hear their views about the state of the world. Actually, quite close to ours.
We drove to Cahors for their Saturday market, just as it was near to closing at noon. We got in the longest line to pick up some lunch and had fresh pizza, then we picked up more pastries. We discovered a little treat, cannelle, apple cakes that get crunchy on the outside with a moist morsel of apple inside. Yum! We peaked inside the old cathedral, St. Etienne, on the market square. St. Etienne was built in the 10th century and had theater boxes. Interesting. We walked to Pont Velantre across the Lot and the most photographed bridge in France.
