Day 4 - Delightful, La Roque Gageac to Carcassonne

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A little tired this morning after the problem we were having with down loading pictures to the blog. We were up past 11:00 trying to figure out the problem. Ray has a lot more patience than I do, I would have flung the ipad out of the window! We really enjoyed our stay here at Le Hautes de Gageac. We had stayed here five years ago and loved it so much we wanted to return. The B&B is situated half way up a mountain, and traveling up to it can be a challenge. The last of the road to the Inn has about 140 degree turn with the road being 9 feet wide and stone walls on both sides. In order to get up you have to back up the road then proceed up. Thankfully, Ray has perfected this maneuver.

After enjoying breakfast and saying goodbye to our gracious hosts, Laurence and Frederick, we headed off to our next destination, Carcassonne. Carcassonne is Europe’s ultimate walled city That has a long history stretching back to the 6th century BC.It changed hands many times during the centuries. Contemporary Carcassonne is divided into two cities, the magnificent Le Cite, the old fortified city, and the new. I had booked us into one of the three hotels that are inside the walls, and we are all glad that I did. It truly is surreal walking the streets here lined with all of the old shops, and a view of antiquity all around you. It should be very interesting as nightfall arrives and most of the people leave. There is a large church in the center of the town, St. Nazareth and St.Celse. It was not open today, but will be tomorrow. The Basilica is first mentioned in the year 925, The Roman Naive was built in the year 1096.

We had a nice lunch, or should I say Diane and I did, the guys not so much. Ray had been dying for a baguette with Jambon,fromage and mutard, so he and John decided to have one at the place we stopped at. Well, the bread was so well done that they thought they would lose a tooth. Diane and I , on the other hand, had a delicious croissant filled with cheese and ham (Jambon & Fromage). We walked around the city until check in time, then stopped for a much needed rest.

After the perfunctory 2 hour coma in our room, we headed out to find someplace for a cocktail before dinner. We ended up at an outdoor venue, and had something to drink, before looking for a restaurant that we liked. Had a nice dinner, and retired to our rooms for another day of adventure tomorrow.

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Comments

[Linda Salisbury]

Watercolor of the walled city
I quickly hiked up the hill from the tour bus and got to the old painter first. He had wonderful paintings drying on a line and fastened with clothespins. Such a find for 20 francs. Then a travel mate and I found a delightful open air table and ordered cassoulet. Gary nearly died laughing about you being in the men’s room. Have fun. Safe travels. Forgot to say my little watercolor is of the walled city and hangs with a grouping of watercolors from Provence.

[Jan]

As again, pictures are awesome. Such beauty. Keep ‘‘em coming. Wish I was there

[Maureen DeLuca]

We are living vicariously through you! Enjoy reading the wonderful detailed descriptions. Love the story of the bread, you ladies had a much more appetizing lunch.