This is going to be brief because I’m too happy to reflect on 1) having to leave the Moulin and closing the chapter on another part of the trip. When you see where I’m spending my birthday weekend, it’s doubtful you’ll feel sorry for me. NOBODY should feel sorry for me, the luckiest woman on earth – if not one of the oldest. The place we’re staying is celebrating its 800th birthday this year, so it actually makes me feel young!
We were introduced to a lovely couple. She is American and French, having gone to USC. He’s British and Norwegian. They treated us so well and were so incredibly gracious and generous. It was so much fun being in the home of people 1) who live in France but our American. Half-American. The husband has spent a lot of time there. They live in Sarlat, which is considered the most beautiful village in France. It’s not that old. Only one thousand years! Over the course of our trip, we saw things that dated back to pre-historic times. The history here is mind-boggling, the food extraordinary (although vegans must be miserable), and the beauty takes your breath away. We found EVERYONE in every village we went to extraordinarily kind and helpful. It helped to break our own stereotype of the French being aloof.
Last night we had dinner at our favorite restaurant in Brantome, the “Venice of France.” We fell in love with the woman who runs the place with her son. Once again, our anti-Trump buttons landed us in good stead. Then we back to the Moulin where we slept out last night.
I’ve marveled, throughout our trip, about how France is so clean. The roads are simply pristine as if nobody has ever driven on them before. All the roads through the countryside are without traffic lights. You’re dependent on roundabouts, which can be a pain the ass. But people are so respectful, it never becomes a problem. I don’t think I ever saw a piece of garbage or crap on any road. We must have been on a hundred side roads, all of them appeared to have been paved ten minutes before we arrived. LA is one giant pothole! Sure there are a a lot less people, but this is farmland, with huge equipment passing over it and yet they’re unblemished, making it a joy to get around.
Today we left for a three day birthday weekend at a place I’ve been “dreaming” about for years. Chateau Bagnols. It defies words, so I’ll rely on pictures. There happens to be a wedding here and they’ve shot countless films here. And for good reason. It looks like something about of a movie! Unfortunately the internet is shit so I can’t post those pics until later.
La Roque-Gageac
