Dordogne, France (14-18 July 2006)

Dordogne hilltop village of Loubressac, France, 16 July 2006

I'm a sucker for France.

The Dordogne region in France has got to be one of my favourites. The beautiful quaint pretty villages and peaceful bastides (fortified towns) which dot the area are in my mind the most impressive I have visited. This is the reason I came to Europe!

The sandstone houses and buildings are seemingly uniform in architecture yet unique for the colour of the stone, from red to orange, to vanilla. Not only are they living places, they have retained their timeless charm and have a romantic seduction you normally only dream of. The lack of aussie tourists is a god-send too. Though the million Dutch caravans do try your patience on the roads.

The valleys are green both in pasture and forests, cut by the wide flowing Dordogne River. Summer Sunflowers offset the green and dazzle golden in the baking summer sun. On high hilltops are, chateaus and churches. Its a magical place to visit.

John has decided to live in this lovely pocket of France, enjoying its warmth and rural hospitality. Truely living the dream. I get to glimpse at the life here and wish it were me!

Highlights include a boat trip inside a deep water canyon/cave, surrounded by cool limestone caves, reminiscient of Jenolan back home, but so much better.
We spend Bastille night in Sarlat, and see the Lascaux Cave paintings also.

Foodwise we are also spoilt. My new favourite dessert has to be Poire Belle Helene. A scoop of vanilla ice cream, two scoops of pear sorbet, half a poached pear, chocolate sauce and cream. Apricot Sorbet comes in as a second, especially if one is wandering the cobbled streets of the villages of the Dordogne.

Duck is my favourite meat, and again spoilt for choice. I have the famous Fois Gras, and choose Breast Duck with Peaches. It doesnt get much better than that.

Must return again...its just magic.