Au Revoir - Day 24 & 25

Song - Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

May 1, 2018

This post is taken from my French travel journal and my trip through Southern France in April 2018.  For some reason my iPad and Blog were not communicating at the time so I was unable to write any posts. At home I am able to blog "post" travel! Thanks for joining me on the journey!

 

Happy Labor Day - May Day

Le Fete de Muguet

The day to present a bouquet of Lily of the Valley to loved ones

Mr. B had never been to Parc de Bagatelle before so I thought today would be a good day to introduce them to each other!

 The peacocks were happy to greet us!

 But from 3 weeks ago when I last visited, a lot had changed.  The Yellow Lady Banks climber was in full bloom.

As were the white and lavender Wisteria!

Pink Peonies - hello darlin

 An arbor full of scented Clematis - breath deep

 We were still too early to see the rose garden in bloom but it was looking good.

 Fragrant Lilac's were everywhere....

 And upon returning to our hotel we were greeted with Muguets.......

After a quick rest we took a walk over to the Louvre and Tuileries. 

 Everyone was enjoying the rays of sun on this cloudy day.......

 The Roue de Paris is a giant Ferris Wheel at the Place de la Concorde.....

 Enjoying the gray sky and views from the Pont de la Concorde bridge over the Seine......

We didn't plan too well as it was a bank holiday and everywhere we wanted to dine on our last night was closed! Back to dinner at Cafe Louise as it was good and the waitress was so kind & fun. 




 May 2, 2018

Woke at 6 to finish packing, check out of the hotel and order an Uber to Charles de Gaulle Airport. We made it but without much time to spare as we forgot about the hour drive to the airport!  We were sitting near our gate at a small cafe when I spot two people we know from our home town. Our kids were on swim team together and it was so much fun getting caught up!
 

They were on our same Aer Lingus flight to Dublin then onto SFO.  We all just barely made the connecting flight!

Good to be home.  The garden is in full bloom and the roses are spectacular!

"One mustn't ask apple trees for oranges, 

France for sun, women for love, life for happiness." 

-- Gustave Flaubert

Keys to the Castle - Day 16

Song - La Vie en Rose by Josephine Baker

The sleepy little town of Beynac

Hit the road early today to head over to the little town of Beynac-et-Cazenac.  We are heading to Richard the Lionheart's Castle!

We arrived before the castle was open so we had breakfast across the courtyard right after Mr. B pays for parking.

Let's head inside......

 Luckily our French guide had the keys to the castle!

But you had to leave your sword at the table and your crossbow was hoisted up on the ceiling.

The chapel on the grounds is high above the Dordogne River and the views were incredible.

When I see stone stairs this well worn, I think of all of the people who have walked them in the thousand years since this place was built.......what their lives were like......what they ate.......what were their beliefs.....happy?

From the fortress we look down on the rooftops of the town, the chapel and the river. Our tour guy was so animated and passionate about the castle that even though we could only understand a few words, he was great fun to watch! He made us walk up and down too many stairs and because of that.........

We stole his keys and locked him in the dungeon!!!

Next we head across the river to Castelnauld but decided we would both rather go to Josephine Baker's home - Chateau des Milandes. Admission to the estate includes headphones in English for your self guided tour.  The history of the flamboyant jazz singer is covered as well as her personal life.  First married at the age of 13, she went on to marry several more times while adopting 12 children from all over the world.

Unfortunately once inside I was not allowed to take any more photos but they did have many of her costumes well displayed including her famous banana skirt!

  Next stop is La Roque-Gageac for lunch along the river and "glaces" while strolling.

 We were headed up to this little chapel but because it was so hot out I asked Mr. B to see if he could find a road to drive us up there.

 

There was a parking spot right next to the building and just a walk past a cool fountain dripping off the hillside & through a rose covered arbor and we had arrived!

I have never seen Mr. B go to so many churches except when we travel! 

Heading back to Sarlat we stopped at a clothing store to purchase Mr. B some shorts and a cooler shirt.  He wasn't planning on it being so warm here. After a quick swim we walked through the town and did some shopping before dinner. I purchased a French nut cracker at a little shop.

Le Badaud Sculpture by Gerard Auliac

 We had drinks outside at Le Madeline then found the famous Goose statue as well as the sculpture Le Badaud "The Onlooker" because he watches out over the square.

And dinner was in a small courtyard at L'Entrepote!  Yummmm!!

Another fine meal in the beautiful village of Sarlat.

Tomorrow will be a long drive to Avignon.....

"Travel makes one modest, 

you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."

--Gustave Flaubert