The dinner on the final night - meals were excellent here too - the food over the 10 days was very good and we probably returned fitter but fatter! As we had to leave the hotel at 6:30am we were fairly gentle with consumption on the last evening.
We returned by train from Souillac to Paris Austerlitz - roll on when the TGV's are running this route! - and then by Eurotunnel back to London and then back to Macclesfield. If you're doing a similar route beware if hoping to charge up electronic devices - the first charging point we saw was at Euston! By that time most of my toys didn't have much charge left!
A very enjoyable holiday with memories to take into the winter evenings! I've included this link before but it's the flickr album for my photos. I might get around to copying some photos others took in time!
Friday, November 08, 2013
Domaine de Poujo and starter
Rocamadour
The last day was a rest day - at least walks were suggested and we ignored them. We spent the morning investigating Rocamadour. Starting at the top level - most easily reached from Hospitalet - and a vertiginous walk on the ramparts - for which there's a charge and a turnstile - probably to keep down the numbers in peak season! The photo is looking down on the church from the end of the parapet - I think my sense of balance is getting worse but I managed this photo! Then down through the basilica - which was celebrating 1000 years of pilgrimages (I think the dating is a little suspect!) and 100 years since the restoration of the site. I kept my eyes open for mentions of Francis Poulenc (who died 50 years ago) who came here and the place inspired some of his religious music but didn't see anything. A light lunch in one of the cafes and then back up the Voie Sainte to the hotel and a gentle afternoon, I paid a visit back to Hospitalet to try to get sunset over the Rocamadour but unfortunately dinner came too soon!
Rocamadour from Hospitalet
The last day with a major walk, we started at Calès and walked back along the Ouysse until it disappeared under the ground and then along a winding gorge until we reached Rocamadour. I had a lot of anticipation - when would Rocamadour be visible - we were traversing the pilgrim route - that the medieval walkers would have taken - though in their case from Rocamadour towards Compostella.
The town didn't come into view until we were walking through the gates and then you were aware of the towering cliffs and buildings on so many levels. Walked through the town - staying on the lowest level - exploration was for tomorrow. A drink at a pavement cafe and then up the Voie Sainte to this view and then on to the Hotel Troubadour just out of Hospitalet.