Grotto Pech Merle cave art

After days of playing mountain goat scampering up and down the steep cobbled steps and lanes, Jodi has quite literally walked her sandals to shreds. They are now in that place that all worn out sandals find themselves at the end of a long and fulfilling life, they have retired to the south of France.

Grotto Pech Merle was a step even further back in time from the middle ages and french revolution era to pre-history. Our journey back in time took us many, many meters under ground into a world of prehistoric cave art. Each step downward the temperature dropped from the balmy 85 degrees outside to a very clammy 40 plus degrees almost as if to remind us of the otherness of the experience.

The setting was unreal, or maybe I should say surreal, with stalagmites and stalactites glistening in the lamplight as we made our way in the semi gloom from cave drawings of bison, mammoths, cave bear, and horses. So, very eerie to be in a place that was inhabited by our ancestors 25,000 years ago.



It is believed that the same clan of people controlled the caves the the area. The same motifs, techniques and hand prints were found in this and near by caves. Ancient man used these caves for religious and spiritual connection.
















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Location:Rue des Cadourques,Cahors,France

Rocamadour, Lot Valley, France

Rocamadour is a friendly place, not just the people, but the atmosphere. We did not have to pay for parking or to enter the attraction.




I bring that up because when you visit the attractions in the Loire or Dordogne, you are dinged for the parking along with the site you are there to see. Rocamadour is a refreshing change from that.




Some of the architecture here is as beautiful and breathtaking as any of the chateaus we have seen, but additionally you appreciate the challenges faced in constructing a structure in and around the face of a cliff side.




A late addition to this post. This shot of Rocamadour from our hotel room at about 10:00 PM.



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Location:Rocamadour, Lot Valley, France

Martel: Little stop on the way to some place else

From Sarlat we left early on a rainy Sunday for Rocamadour. The clouds lightened as we traveled along the road, making us more inclined to hop out of our car and visit places that catch our interest, also we were hungry. A pain (bread) au chocolat (chocolate chips inside), croissant, and orange juice later and away we go.

Martel is another medieval village but where Sarlat sported hues of warm orange tones, Martel was more somber recalling images found in Normandy or Brittany.





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Location:Martel, Lot Valley, France

Carennac, Lot Valley, France

Never heard of Carennac before today. Sometimes it's good to get a little lost, or as we sometimes call it "Having a spotted chicken adventure."



Somewhere on the road between Sarlat and Rocamadour, we stumbled off the beaten path and found ourselves on country lanes no wider than our car, and a bridge that I swore we could not possibly cross other than on foot. Our little road eventually lead us to the arresting village of Carennac. I think we have decided to move here and call this town home. At least for today.
As it turned out this is one of the villages that has been named one of France's "Les Beaux Villages". A designation given to the most beautiful villages in France. In the last two years we have seen a few of these, and they deservedly earn the recognition.



It was one of those visits that you don't want to have come to an end. The babbling of brooks, the chirping of the birds, and scent of the flowers only enhanced the aura of the medieval structures that surrounded us.


I kid you not when I say that we have fallen in love with Carrenac.



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Location:L'Hospitalet,Rocamadour,France