The Delights of Dordogne

As you may have already guessed by the title, I spent last weekend in the Dordogne region of France. Périgueux, to be precise. Why this region of France? Well, for one it is the location for some beautiful French scenery, and for two it is half-way between me and my buddy Anna. Over five hours each way was definitely worth it to see her face. And Amita genuinely just happened to be in Perigueux that weekend too, so we got to see her face, too!!

Allow me to enlighten you as to my top Dordogne Moments:

1. C'est dégueulasse, quoi!
So upon being reunited with my dearest Anna, we decided it was time for some supper. After dragging her around the streets of Périgueux trying to find the restaurant I had spotted earlier, my nav skills returned to me and we came across the restaurant. Yes, it was completely empty on a Friday night, but it had a three course Formule for 18€, so who could resist venturing inside...

Pretty rocks with buildings constructed
right into the rock face! And note the
interesting erosion, too!

"C'est dégueulasse" roughly translates as "It's disgusting", and I will only briefly explain why in an effort to avoid re-plays in my mind of what happened....
Entrée: slimy pigs trotter. 
Plat principal: duck chitterlings i.e. INTESTINE in a sausage. 
(But I have to admit the dessert of profiteroles was a winner.)

Lesson to be learned? Use the dictionary. 

2. Look at the pretty rocks!!
On Saturday, Anna, Amita and I went to Les Eyzies which are home to some really, really pretty rocks. They are golden coloured, with black stripes running down them (as if someone had used a paintbrush) and there's some really interesting erosion. Now, I'm no geologist, but I did find these rocks pretty darn, well... pretty. 

Les Eyzies' Town Hall!

Les Eyzies also held the delights of a pre-historic museum, a fortified church, and many small bars, tabacs and restaurants, one of which was open on Saturdays. It also had the cutest Mairie / town hall I am yet to see in France. 

3. C'est hyper-easy
Yes, one of my highlights was just relaxing with people who spoke English and who could sympathise with the feeling I get from time to time that I'm just in France to pass the time until I can go back to England. Wandering around, nattering in franglais, spending money willy-nilly in patisseries and boulangeries and chocolateries and various other shops ending in 'eries'... and we bought our Saturday lunch at a proper French market and all: Baguette, ham, cheese, macaroons. Done. 

I also enjoyed slobbing on the hotel double bed watching French TV. Although you could be forgiven for thinking that the programmes were in French, due to their hideous and vile use of my language. Memorable offenders include one particularly cocky-looking and -behaving chef who violated my ears by saying 'Allez, go, c'est parti' AND 'c'est hyper-easy' in the space of five minutes. I think my exact words were 'Somebody slap that man'. At the MAJO on Thursday evening (my memory is permanently scarred with this experience), a boy asked if something was 'clean' (pronounced 'cleeeeen') and I was nearly sick in my mouth. 

4. Ca fait du bien
Overall, I had a highly enjoyable weekend with Anna and Amita (and the latter's friend who was the original reason for her presence in Perigueux). Other mentions go to the Irish Pub where I had a Magners cider which cost 6€60, paying 1€70 for a Kinder Bueno to get the taste of duck intestine out of my mouth, the Catholic Mass Service Anna and I sneaked into, the Roman foundations preserved at an archeological museum, and the cathedral, which I found rather dull except for its spectacular roof. 

The roof of Périgueux cathedral
(which inspired the architect of the Sacré
Coeur in Montmartre, Paris)

Next weekend I have a super-hyper-exciting extravaganza lined up for myself, so watch out for the following blog post. Until then, reposez-vous bien, bon courage, et ne t'inquiete jamais, c'est toujours pas grave. 

Top Phrases of the past weekend:
1. Look at the pretty rocks!!
2. Ta gueule. 
3. C'est dégueulasse, quoi!
4. C'est hyper-easy
5. Ca fait du bien. 
6. It was a joke. Ha ha. 
7. Allez, go, c'est parti!