From Bordeaux to Beaujolais!

Since I last wrote, we have had a mini road trip taking in Bordeaux, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Rocamadour. We stayed overnight in Bordeaux with Kath and Kay en route to Toulouse for their return flight. We found a city hotel right in the centre and booked a restaurant for the Sunday night on a recommendation from one of Kay’s friends. What a little gem it was too! We had platters of cheeses and charcuterie to choose from and drank very nice Bordeaux wine all in a cute little restaurant tucked away in a back street. The desserts were delicious too. I’d recommend it if you ever find yourself in Bordeaux: Ô P’tit Bahut.

 

After waving off K&K at the airport the next day, we made our way up the motorway to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France (I’m not just saying that, it really was voted the winner of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France in 2012). See what you think:

 

After a night in a little family-run hotel, we continued our road trip to Rocamadour which I had visited as a child. We checked in to our hotel right in the centre of the medieval quarter and explored the city climbing up and down numerous steps.

 

 

We tried to drive around the area to get the best view of the city and Google took us down a track which I was, to put it mildly, dubious about. There were leaves strewn all across it and, when we had to cross a rickety bridge, I became very concerned. We got over without a problem and continued on the apparently deserted track. It was only when we reached the other end that we looked back and, much to my horror, saw a sign that read:

Basically NO CARS ALLOWED! Yikes. Bloody Google! I promise you there was no such sign on the end where we joined the track…

Google failed us again the next day as we headed home and came up against roadworks which involved a massive detour virtually back to where we started! The silver lining was that we got to see this little gem, Lacave, perched on a hill just before we were turned back:

Another stop en route took us to Uzerche in the Corrèze departement where we stretched our legs. It’s a big country, France! To be fair to Google, we have used it pretty much everywhere we have been without a hiccup and we are now getting used to the Google lady’s anglicised French pronunciation!

 

Finally back home, Rich vowed to have a day without using the car so, as it was Thursday and fish n chip night, I was more than happy for us to toddle down to the local bar, especially when I realised it was Beaujolais Nouveau day! They release this new wine at 12.01am on the 3rd Thursday of every November and then it’s basically a race to see who can be serving it in their restaurants and bars that very day. Well, our little bar in Aulnay did not disappoint. What a perfect end to our road trip: a few glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau and a fish supper. Life doesn’t get much better than this!

À bientôt, bisous.