Sorry! A Bit Out of Touch

Dear Friends and Family, Apologies to all for being a bit out of touch for the last couple of days. Traveling days are hard. Friday was the last night in Puy L’Eveque. We had a kind of nice night the last evening. We returned to a restaurant we had discovered because another was closed. It is La Vigne Haute (The High Vineyard or something like that). It is in the lovely little village of Castelfranc, about 20 minutes from Ann’s. Sadly, dinner was not quite as good as the first time we tried it, but afterwards we met Ann at our little wine bar, L’Astrolab. We wanted to say goodbye to Charlotte who had been so nice to us for the last 3 weeks. We met Ann there to experience what Charlotte called “A Meter.” This is a ne meter long board with 10 shot glasses all filled with their own personally flavored vodkas. We certainly needed Ann’s Assistance. The vodkas were flavored with things like caramel, nutella, basil, violet, etc. They were surprisingly good. So with a bit of a light head, we sadly bid adieu to Charlotte and Yano her husband. Very nice people and I wish them the best in their new venture. Earlier Friday, we went to the marché at Prayssac, just down the road. Met Ann and some other Brits for coffee before head up to lunch with Michael and Eileen, some very nice English people that Ann had had to dinner earlier in our stay.

The day was positively beautiful and we enjoyed their lovely property, complete with a newly installed fish pond and their own frog

We had a wonderful meal outside and enjoyed the lively conversation, something you always get with Michael and Eileen. Saturday was an even sadder leaving. It is so hard to leave Poujoulou. Ann is such a wonderful hostess and we enjoy the setting and the company. Polley and I were both feeling pangs of regret about going away. However, the train to Paris is awaiting. We drove for quite a long day on Saturday, finally getting to a lovely town, called Le Puy-en-Velay. It is an amazing place in terms of the topography. Great churches and castles on great jutting rock. Unfortunately, it was getting dark and I could not capture the place, but Polley and I agree we must return. After struggling to find the hotel, we briefly unpacked and head to the center of the town for dinner. The square is delightful as you sit there surrounded by these wonderfully painted buildings

Each one is a different color and the shutter and trim are unique to each as well

It was a cloudy, but very mild evening so Polley and I just sat there and closed the café down

Then it was on to dinner at a place recommended by the hotel: À L’Ecu D’Or (names after an ancient gold French coin. It was a cave-like place with these sort of Renaissance murals on the wall of the cave.

The meal was excellent as we had a potato pate and a main course of potatoes (again), a wonderful roasted red pepper mousse, and a very nice piece of beef. It was a real find. Then it was home to prepare for another day in the car. About 9:30, we left Le Puy-en-Velay and headed for Lyon where we needed to return the car. It was a relatively short trip, just a couple of hours. Of course, as always, the trick was once in the city, finding the hotel. First, we had a detour that threw our original plans out the back window, and then, despite having been there before, maneuvering the endless one-way streets proved a challenge. As my brother would say, “We knew we had the sum-of-bitch surrounded, but couldn’t quite get there. Finally, be ignoring a Do Not Enter sign, we arrived! We dumped off the luggage and I drove another 5 blocks to return the car. There is always a very warm, runny feeling when you have gotten the responsibility of car out of your hands. I will not have to drive myself for the remainder of the trip. Oh, praise the Lord! We had to wait for our room for a couple of hours so we walked down to the train station about 5 blocks away and had a bit of lunch and watched the train station crowd. Always interesting to say the least. Once in the room and a short nap we wanted to bit of dinner. Sunday evenings in France: Good Luck. We wandered and wandered and found nothing open. The French had the big meal in the early afternoon on Sundays and then close down. Thank God for the Muslims! We finally found a little kebab joint and stuffed ourselves with lamb and frites. Back to the hotel to prepare for Paris. It is now about 7 am Monday morning and we are up, of course and getting ready for our 10 am fast train to Paris. More from there.