Blogs from Gourdon, Midi-Pyrénées, France, Europe

Advertisement

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Gourdon September 15th 2011

Hi All Well this will be my last posting from Gourdon (until Sean and I return in October). Yesterday I hired a bike and decided to do one of the short routes called Promenade en Bouriane, aiming for a tiny village called St Cirq Madelon. I was most relieved to see the sign ‘Veloroute’ numerous times, knowing that I couldn’t possibly get lost. I made it to the village (10km’s), took a picture of the church (see below), and that was that! A couple of lovely houses, one I think was converted from a former Protestant temple. It was a reasonably easy ride so I continued on for a couple of kilometres, coming to a main road, so turned back. After passing the sign post for St Cirque Madelon, I must have gone the wrong way ... read more
Bertie the Cat
Bike Ride
French Scarecrow

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Gourdon September 12th 2011

Hi Everyone Well this is my second attempt at doing this blog. I spent 45 minutes this morning, only to find my internet connection had dropped out, and I lost the lot! So, as I should do, I will write, copy and paste. I have finished my formal classroom lessons, and along with my fellow classmates, had a big sigh of relief. We were getting into the past and future tenses - I have difficulty putting a sentence together in the present tense, let alone others! The afternoon excursions were great. On Thursday we went to Le Château de Puymartin, a lovely castle still owned by descendants of the original owners, and one of the chateaux not destroyed or taken over during the Revolution. Some of the paintings and tapestries date back to the 17th century. ... read more
Le Château de Puymartin
Le Château de Puymartin
Le Château de Puymartin

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Gourdon September 7th 2011

Hello everyone Well I am into my lessons - is it only the second day? I am mentally exhausted by the end of the day and have been falling asleep by 9pm. But it is good fun - We have 3 hours of classroom time in the morning which may involve an exercise. For example I had to go and buy something from une mercerie stall (haberdashery) - I had to ask directions, and I found the most helpful are the little old ladies who babble away in French, with me nodding and saying oui oui and not understanding 95% of it. We have two teachers, Giles who is English who resides in Gourdon with his wife and two girls (the eldest also called Connie) and Marie who is a lovely, trés chic lady who is ... read more
Gourdon
Gourdon
Going home from Church

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Gourdon September 4th 2011

I am having a lot of trouble with the internet here - it disconnects intermittently, so I will see how I go with the photos. Had a cafe creme at the cafe this morning that nearly blew my head off it was that strong - Sean, you will like it. Had to put three sugars in to be able to drink it. The pastries are to die for and very reasonably priced. I bought a meille feuille for 2 euro (aud $2.70) - and no, I won't put on weight here because I will be walking so much!! Yesterday, I had a 'conversation' with Maurice the florist, who doesnt speak any English. This is what I need, someone with patience whilst I practice my French. Today when I was out walking, a very old car came ... read more
Gourdon
Gourdon
Gourdon

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Gourdon September 3rd 2011

Hi everyone - I have arrived in Gourdon which is a lovely medieval village about an hour by train north of Toulouse. I have only been here a couple of hours and it is so peaceful after Paris. It looks beautiful and I will certainly take plenty of photos over the two weeks that I am here. I start my language course on Monday, so hopefully I will be able to string a sentence together by the time Sean arrives. The train from Paris took 4 hours and the countryside looks wonderful in this region. I am renting a converted barn from the people running the french course (who are English) and I am typing this in a lovely little courtyard with a view of a ? turret roof, (rephrase - pointy rounded roof). To think ... read more
P1010022
P1010027
P1010041




Tot: 0.069s; Tpl: 0.005s; cc: 7; qc: 37; dbt: 0.0329s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb