Rest day in Périgueux

Somehow you always seem to feel more tired on a rest day, than when you are walking 20 kms! Not that we are really tired, but having a mid afternoon relax after exploring this very lovely city. First we set off to see the enormous cathedral that we’d just seen from the outside yesterday…it is huge, in the shape of a Greek cross, with 5 domes and essentially 4 naves all facing into the central main altar, with many chapels on the sides of course and a cloister. Nothing is symmetrical and it is just beautiful and a huge space. We lit candles for Ira and for Neil Francis (mutual friend of ours and Ira) in a chapel for St Francis - very appropriate.

Then we meandered the narrow cobbles streets of the old town, had a coffee/chocolate at the cafe de la Truffe and have rejected it for tonight’s dinner! None of the menus mention truffles…not sure what it is with truffles in this part of the world but it doesn’t seem to be available as an addition to a dish, but super special…(not like having truffle on a pizza or in a pasta etc!)…we will investigate and see if we can solve this mystery. I mean, I do realise that round here they are super special! We have seen a classier restaurant in another square and will maybe have dinner there, truffles or not!

We ran into a pilgrim outside the cathedral, obviously checking directions on his phone and we all spoke together in not very good French till he said he was Dutch and we spoke English. Very nice man, he had run into our French couple and had heard about us…there is a pilgrim network! So we had a nice chat, and took photos together. He was heading for the alternate route via Bergerac so we probably won’t run into him again.

We visited the archeological museum which was open on a Monday…so many things are closed, including shops and restaurants on a Monday, and just by chance this has been our rest day for the last 3 weeks. But plenty open, and lots to see. We went for a walk along the river, the Isle, which seems like a strange name for a river! It is a tributary of the Dordogne. Quite a large wide river and pretty looking over at the city.

Walked back to our hotel via the Roman amphitheatre park…no rubble there and the Roman museum was closed, but it was where there had been a large amphitheater and was a nice park to sit in. Had lunch in a little bakery place - shared a croque monsieur and a quiche!

Now back in the room and I gave Amr a birthday haircut with the hair cutting set we had bought at La Jolla - the same as Michael’s that I used to cut Michael and Amr’s hair, now about 2 months ago!! At first I got a fright and thought it was a different no. 2, as it looked so shaven - but I think it was the contrast with the fluffy hair he had grown! He looks good!Les mer