Up this morning, and after a terrific breakfast of cheeses, salami, ham and orange juice, we gathered up our things and drove down to the hotel to check email just a bit after 8. Today is the first day we’ve had since we’ve been here that it has been very overcast and looking like possible rain. From the hotel we headed toward Cordes-sur-Ciel (Cordes in the sky) to meet Nathalie and her family. We had a really beautiful drive. Emmy guided us on some VERY small roads – a few I thought were leading into people’s back yards! We passed some wonderful fields of brilliant red poppies – even on a cloudy day they are really spectacular!
Arrived at Cordes about 11:30 a.m.; always like to be early! The interesting thing about Cordes-sur-Ciel, and hence the name, is that the town starts at the bottom of the hill, which is where most of the parking is, and then winds straight UP – into the sky. It is really lovely!
And of course, Nathalie and her family had arrived even earlier than we! It was TERRIFIC to meet them at long last! We have been corresponding since Robert broke his leg, which will be two years this coming October. Nathalie’s husband unfortunately had to work today, but she brought her 12 year old son Nathan, and her beautiful 16 year old daughter, Julia. What WONDERFUL people; such a beautiful family! To be honest, I was so interested in the conversation that I didn’t pay a lot of attention as we walked up that hill! Found a very nice spot for lunch along the terrace – beautiful view of the countryside! – and settled in for something like 3 ½ hours together! Both Nathalie and Julia are fabulous English-speakers. Julia is interested in many languages, and has been learning English for something like 10 years. Nathalie’s grasp of even American slang is incredible! Certainly wish I could speak French just a fraction as well as they speak English! Maybe someday…if only I can get over my embarrassment of making mistakes! The time passed so incredibly quickly – and then we all had to go! They did leave us with a wonderful parting gift – half a round of Roquefort (our favorite!), two bottles of wine, pate, as well as a French dessert! Will start enjoying them tonight…Merci bien, Nathalie, Julia et Nathan! Nous vous verrons encore une fois! (Realizing that French speakers AND my friend Caroline who taught high school French for YEARS are reading this makes me VERY nervous…)
Back to the car and out of town for the drive home; a little over two hours. Much more traffic this afternoon than there was this morning, but by the time we got back to Le Bugue, the sun had come out and the temperature had gone up! Another great day!
Tomorrow we will probably hunt out one of the “new” caves we have never seen before, but I also want to spend some time visiting Sarlat, Domme and possibly even Castelnaud again – Robert just LOVES to play with their trebuchet!
More later!
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