A market to start the day - Day 12

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Le Bugue, Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canéda

Tuesday, 2 October 2012
We headed of to La Bugue market which was about 15 minutes from Les Eyzies. Finding parking was easy - we parked in the free car park by the river. This same car park had camper van parking. We had learnt from an English couple we met yesterday how you can park your van in these council owned parks, sometimes for free, and sometimes for just a few euros. This couple come over from England twice a year in their left hand drive van and just potter around from village to village.
The market was picturesque and had meats, cheeses, fish, fruit and flowers as well as crafts and clothing. Some was aimed at tourists but much was for the locals. I bought a lovely handbag, the boys got some new belts - beautiful handmade leather - and then there was the cheese, radishes (for Bruce) and strawberries. I don't know where all the strawberries we are eating are coming from because it can't be the season - but they are lovely. Thank goodness the belt seller spoke English because ther pie were lots of discussions about sizes; buckles; and adjusting!
We then headed to Bergerac to have a wee explore. I was a bit worried at first as it started to look like an ugly French city/town ( and there are a few of these) but after finding a park and a bench to have lunch, we found our way to the Vieux Ville and understand why the guide books recommend a visit. It is very attractive! There is an interesting flood lines pointer near the river which shows the various points that the river had flooded over the years. It seems that the Dordogne is not always the sleepy river we have experienced this holiday. This little potter through the town was interspersed with a few visits to the toilets...poor Bruce was experiencing the consequences of too many radishes in such a short time! He does enjoy a good radish..I didn't realise he ate them in the market as well on his sandwich!
On the constant search for cute villages and photogenic spots we headed for Sarlat. We got stuck in a huge traffic jam but it was worth it in the end. The old part of Sarlat is really well preserved 14th century. We visited a Pottery first just on the edge of the old town and she had some really lovely work. Then there was the usual photographic stroll through the town and we decided we would enjoy a drink sitting outside in the town square. Really lovely in this current mild weather.
Bruce has been eyeing up a restaurant in Les Eyzies called the Vieux Moulin which was part of a hotel. It was really attracted with the water wheel still working ( unlike the Moulin we stayed in where the waterwheel and part of the building had been destroyed 100's of years ago). It was very elegant with a gorgeous dining room. Often, especially at the mor e upmarket restaurants, you get offered an aperitif as you sit down. I've learnt to order something - more recently a Kir - otherwise the wine is often not served until your entree comes! At this place the wine was placed on a central table - not at yours - so you had to wait for the waitress to come before another glass was poured. I commented to Bruce that you would never get drunk here (that's a good thing) though we noticed that even the French people near us got up and served their own at one point. The other funny thing was watching the man who had gone out to take a phone call return, and sit on his dog (who squeaked) who was hidden underneath his table. The French ( and visiting English) take their dogs everywhere and we have generally seen them sit outside at restaurants. This inside was a first for us - but the when would never have known he was there if it were not for the wee accident!

	market vegetables [Map]		Breads [Map]
	Fruits [Map]		More veggies! [Map]
	Bergerac old town [Map]		The medieval part [Map]
	There were two B&B's a bit like this..a bit tacky [Map]		More of that medieval town [Map]
	The square in Sarlat [Map]		Lovely architecture [Map]
	Cool statue in Sarlat [Map]		Ducks...a little obsession in the Perigord [Map]
	Sarlat architecture [Map]		Churches in Sarlat [Map]
	View from our house early evening [Map]		Relais de Roches. We are upstairs, [Map]

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