C'EST LA VIE - THAT'S LIFE
Living in France for 3 months with Jeannine & Roger
La Réole 22nd May
French words of the day “ferme hebdomadaire la mercredi” = closed weekly on Wednesday. The local bars, bakeries and cafes take it in turns to be shut one day a week. The bar most frequented by the English is closed on Wednesdays so they just go across the road to the one whose closed day is Thursday. Our favourite local bakery is closed Wednesdays, which is a bonus for me because the cakes are discounted to clear them, so today’s taste of France is a strawberry almond tart.
Essentials sorted, we are off to La Reole to buy our weekly groceries. When we went there last time it was raining so we didn’t get to see what the town has to offer. There is a tourist walking circuit signposted around that town that takes you to the 12th century town hall, the medieval timbered houses, the St Pierre church and Benedictine abbey, the Chateau des Quat’sos, the lavoir and the ramparts with views over the Garonne. We followed the circuit by doing the geocaches set up along the trail.
12th century town hall built for Richard the Lionheart, a man I studied for my Dip of Arts Crusades paper. Both the French and English claimed him as one of their own.
Medieval half timber houses, well maintained.
St Pierre church, absolutely beautiful inside. The Abbey was massive and is still in use but as the town hall. With the expulsion of the monks during the French Revolution the abbey became the property of the State. Many of the beautiful cloisters, staircases, frescos and gates have been maintained.
Ramparts and gardens, note the access way is a little hindered. The Garonne is of course big and dirty.
The chateau remains were boring but this mother and baby elephant shaped tree near the chateau was pretty cool.
Jeannine & Roger
A couple of people who decided to try living in France for three months, to absorb some of the culture and to try a diet of Baguette, Cheese and Wine.