Bonjour from Sarlat, France

The Loire valley is lovely.
My last morning there (this trip) I did a long run through an enchanted forest, I expected to be met by an ogre or perhaps a princess, or at least a band of gypsies. The trees were ancient, large, the earth smelled cool and gritty.


Sometimes I have to pinch myself...I'm driving through France, walking in a room that was built in the 13th century...

Sarlat is a medieval town in Southern France. We arrived yesterday,just as school was letting out and the medieval streets were full of gorgeous French children, round faced, smiling, happy kids.
Last night we did a walk through town, got familiar with it, had a fabulous dinner, then saw the Yale Schola Cantorem at the local cathedral. Just a happy accident, that.
The cathedral has a pipe organ, built into the stone, the sound is amazing and combined with the voices...it was music I won't forget. Ever.
Today, was market day, so we wandered the streets, sampled all kinds of foods, ate warm croissants, and crepes made to order. I tried my first foie gras, and my last.
All day, people spoke to me as if I were French, handed me political fliers. It's funny, I just look at Annalise and she does her best to converse in her unpracticed, left over from a pretty unremarkable French teacher, French.
We spent the afternoons touring a prehistoric cave. Tomorrow we'll tour more caves and then take a canoe down the Dordogne river. We have bread, cheese, strawberries and raspberries, all of our needs are met.
Annalise is a great naviagator, but Monday we turn the car in and take the train to Paris.
We are getting along famously and think we might want to try to do the amazing race. We might recruit my cousin Sam to join us, as he's crazy like us, but has mad pilot and logistic skills.
We are grateful to be here and to have this time together.
It's not a time we will ever forget.