Aux Champs-Elysees!

 

 

The Avenue des Champs-Elysees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9V-zUlrhEE

Everyone please click on the above link and happily sing along!

We had a great day and evening on the famous Champs-Elysees.  Window shopping, dinning and entertainment, the Avenue has all you need for a Saturday afternoon in Paris.
Once again we had an afternoon bite to eat at the fabulous George V,  I'm saving my nickels & quarters for a night stay!

                                                              activity on Champs-Elysees

 

 

                                                             entrance to the George V

                                                                     The two Leclerc's

                                Hope you enjoyed the song and are still singing along with a smile......


Here are a few more photo's of our outings in Paris. 

                                                                   La Tour d'Eiffel

                                                                    Two happy LeClerc's

pretty candies

 

mmm.....pastry

 

simple afternoon snack, chouxette pastry

 

Michael LeClerc sitting on a large Eclair!

 

We visited the museum of Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) a renown Parisian sculptor. His most famous work "The Thinker" is often thought to represent the field of philosophy.

 

 

Saint-Sulpice in France's second largest cathedral.  You will also see it in the movie, Da Vinci Code.

 

 

pretty pink boulangerie

 

 

 typical afternoon café

 

Fall colors in the park.

 

more mmmm.....

 

 

 

A bientot!

Pretty Parisian Gardens

Tuileries Gardens

 

We have finally retuned the rental car and we are back in Paris after our 1500 mile journey in South West France.  Its time for stretching our legs and walking around the beautiful city. Thank goodness for all of the walking, it makes it easier for all of the cheese and pate' I am about to eat!  

We started at my favorite garden for strolling, the Tuileries, this royal palace was the usual Parisian residence of most of the French monarchs from Henry IV to Napoleon III.  I love the view of the Eiffel Tower.

Another beautiful grand garden is the Luxembourg. It's the second largest in Paris and the palace now houses the French senate.

All of this strolling is making me hungry! I think its time to find a lovely bistro.

 

 

the Seine river

 

 Tuileries

 

Tuileries

 

                                         you can see the Obelisk and down to the Arc de Triomphe

                                                              The pigs got a makeover this year!

                                                                The Luxembourg Gardens

                                                              café in the Luxembourg gardens

Markets and a Goose Farm

funny face goose

It was all about the farming today!  We had a great day at the market in the riverside town of Le Bugue.  It was about a half an hour drive through beautiful farmland with small castle's and walnut groves dotting the hillsides. It started out as a super foggy morning but lifted by the time we got to the market.  We were ready to try the local favorite Tart au Noix (walnut tart). We picked one made with the walnuts cooked in a honey caramel sauce. Delicious! We also picked up some of the local walnut oil to drizzle on our salad for dinner.
Back on the road and in search of a goose farm. The Dordogne is well know also for it's production of fois gras, it's the liver of geese and duck which has been fattened with extra servings of corn. Geese and duck are everywhere and on all the local menus!
It didn't take long before we spotted a great farm with many of the cute faced feathered friends in action.  We chose not to stick around for the force feeding, but I know they are really happy geese!
Next stop, Paris!

foggy morning

 

heading to Le Bugue village market

 

Le Bugue village market

 

Tart au Noix

 

Big cheeeese!

 

beautiful fruit tarts

 

foggy hilltop castle

 

 

 

                                                                      hanging with the geese

Mr. Handsome

 

products of the farm

 

 

                                                                    running to get their lunch!

                                                                          market in Sarlat

                                                             having fun at the Sarlat town market

                                                                  the ole' Deux Cheveaux

Exploring the Medieval Dordogne

 

 

We have gone from rolling vineyards to walnut trees and goose farms here in the Dordogne department of SW France.  It's a beautiful countryside dotted with small castles and villages. We are staying in the medieval town of Sarlat. The town has remained preserved and is most representative of a 14th century France.  It is spectacular in the evening light with a yellow glow shinning off the ochre-tinted stone.

We spent an afternoon in the neighboring town of Beynac et Cazenac.  It is home to the Chateau de Beynac, one of the best examples of a medieval castle in France.  It was once besieged by Richard the Lion Heart in the 12th century. After a hike up to the castle we took a leisurely boat trip down the Dordogne river to get a nice view of the castles on the hills above.

 

Sarlat

 

 

 bronze goose

 

 

Sarlat square

 

Chateau de Beynac

 

Beynac

 

the medieval castle

 

having a good day

 

 

slate roofs

 

walking down to the village

boat tour

 

just chillin

 

This castle is owned by the Texan who invented the machine to crush and cube cars. He puts up a Texas flag when in residence. It was up!

 

view of Dordogne valley from town of Domme

 

Going out to dinner for some local fare!