Sarlat and Surrounds (Pt 3)

This is the last installment from Sarlat. We leave tomorrow morning for the Pyrenees and a week's walking in the mountains. We've spent the last week: 

1. Recovering from our intense touring with the Ketters! 

2. Doing several walks in the Dordogne countryside enjoying the scenery and looking for birdlife; 

3. Visiting gardens that we haven't been to before; and

4. Doing house maintenance including installing external window frames and mortar for 2 large windows. 

Here are some pics (remember to click on them if you want to see full sized - you can then scroll):

A particularly good entree at our favourite lunch spot up the street: Le Bistro de l'Octroi.....

Another new carpet - in the kitchen....

Busy Saturday market in Sarlat.....

Terrasson Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire was a very impressive modern French garden - lots of water play on a steep site next to the old town....

15th century bridge in Terrasson with Marian providing scale!.....

Overview of Terrasson from ramparts above the old town.....

Noice in the old town....

View of old Terrasson town from the garden....

Confluence of Dordogne and Vezere Rivers from Jardins Panoramiques de Limeuil. Set in typical Dordogne countryside.....

We did several walks that don't get many photos here, but this is the kind of medieval forest setting that is pretty common on those outings.....

There are footpaths all over and very well signposted. We also use the government app with detailed maps via GPS - it makes things pretty easy .....

Outside our front door....

Another market day.....

Les Jardins de Cadiot are nearby and were surprisingly colourful for this season..... 

The carpark was busiest on this day, when 21 Aston Martins turned up on their weekend outing to the Dordogne! We saw them a few times on our outings over the weekend....

We have an obscure nature guidebook that has great suggestions for routes and places that we'd otherwise not be aware of. This is a stretch of the Dordogne near Limeuil that was very beautiful with some locals soaking up the sun and having a swim.....

I've seen this view many times, but it's pretty impressive. The hilltop is Marqueyssac garden, the boat is one of several traditional Gabarre that take tourists up and down this stretch of the Dordogne. The view is from La Roque-Gageac. We canoe'd down this stretch last week....

A very nice path along the Dordogne next to a farm. We did a nice circuit using the GPS maps....

This weekend was the French heritage weekend, where buildings and activities are carried out all around France to celebrate its heritage. Here in Sarlat on the Saturday night they put candles out around the old town and had entertainment ....

The Cathedral lit up its windows from the inside which was nice....

A Triumph 1950s - 1970's car exhibition.....

Crazy performer dangling a fish from a renaissance palace in the medieval town.....

Another crazy man setting off a flare by hand - don't try this at home.....

The conclusion of the night was a bizarre pyrotechnic display by the troupe of dystopian characters glimpsed earlier. Their show was to electro beats via a DJ in the corner. There's no way you could meet Workplace Health and Safety at home with this show - this close to the audience! Definitely do not try any of this at home!.....

Now that's what I call a (steak) knife! Main course tonight (last meal in Sarlat this trip) - entree and desert were also great....