After all the driving that we did yesterday, and a fairly late (for us) bedtime (11:30 p.m.) we didn’t get up this morning until 7:30! Had baguette and cheese, ham and orange juice for breakfast, and then Robert walked into town for the morning email check. I had put in a load of laundry right when we got up, and of course it was taking forever! Almost an hour and a half! So, I stayed and did dishes and had just gotten the laundry FINALLY out of the washer when R got back. Decided to skip the market in town, which today included not only fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses, but bric a brac (also known here as “brocante”) and crafts as well.
Headed north, directly to Grotte de Villars, as they close for lunch at 11:30 and it was already almost 9 a.m. Made it in about an hour and 15 minutes, over some decidedly beautiful back roads. Pulled up just in time to see a huge tour group being lead into the cave…ugh! Our group ended up consisting of the two of us, four Germans and the tour guide – as R said, definitely the best dressed guide we’ve ever seen – older lady in a red dress with stockings and flat black shoes! Very different! Grotte de Villars is primarily a geological show cave, with a few prehistoric paintings on the walls, now being covered in calcite concretions. The cave itself is magnificent. It is 13 km long, and very, very deep. Once we were in it, the lighting was spectacular, and there was also a sound and light show in one of the largest caverns. AND there were bats flying around. (I just love bats!) The paintings – the head of a bison, and several horses – weren’t great after what we have been seeing, but considering that prehistoric man/woman would have to tunnel such a huge distance, as well as try to paint while standing directly on stalagmites, it’s incredible that they were done at all! R would very much like to excavate underneath much of the surrounding calcite to see what is hidden there, but doesn’t look like that’s going to happen any time soon!
On exiting the cave and entering their little museum, I found what I have been looking for for the past year – the map of ALL the Grottes de France, with locations and information! This will make things MUCH easier in future, the next time we need a “cave” fix!
From Villars we decided to go straight to Sarlat, as it is such a lovely city. (Picked up a sandwich along the way for lunch.) Found a great parking space very near our lodgings of a couple of years ago, Villa des Consuls. (Have included a photo for Jay and Tommy and Chris and Brenda!) R still complaining because he had to walk UP HILL to get to it…oh well! Walked around town and took more pictures. Glad to miss their market, because, while it is wonderful, it also brings hoards of folks into town. This afternoon, in the hot sun, it was just populated enough to make it interesting. Decided that R had had enough aimless wandering, and headed back to Le Bugue for afternoon naps…which is what R is currently doing! Up soon, as we’re going out to dinner tonight, but trying to work it in between a phone call from Caltech…so not sure how long/late that will be!
More later!
m
x
No comments:
Post a Comment