Relaxing Retreat

Sometimes it is just nice to get away for a long weekend and just relax. That is exactly what we did 2 weeks ago. The children were out of school again for winter break and while it seemed that most of France was headed to ski vacations, we opted for a quieter, slower vacation in the Dordogne region of France. This region is known for its castles (more than 1000!) and for foie gras (Goose or Duck liver). Because this was technically the off season, most of the chateaux and tourist sites were closed to visitors, but the natural beauty of the area was magnificent.

We spent our days driving the country side. Most of the roads were winding 2 lanes that connected medieval villages and chateaux to one another. We were able to visit one chateaux, Castlenaud, and its medieval weapons museum.

John and Lauren had a ball playing and pretending they were in war scenes. I also loved that the children were able to see some of the history that they are learning in school. Lauren and Maya in particular are learning French history and were able to recognize some of the places and people that they have read about.

We also saw caves as we drove along the Dordogne River were people first lived in prehistoric times as well as during medieval times.

la roque st christophe

Sarlat-la-canéda is a cute town where we had lunch and were able to try the regional specialty, foie gras. Preston enjoys the whole liver, while I prefer foie gras in the pate form. The children however refused to eat any once they read about how the animals are forced fed to enlarge the liver. I can't argue with their position and there are certain things that I won't eat either. At least they did eat the confit de canard and pomme de terre sarladaise (fried duck and potatoes fried in duck grease, just a note, I still don't know how French people stay so thin!).

As far as the town of Sarlat, it was beautiful with an italian flavor and I loved how the stone of the buildings had a golden hue. We spent the afternoon walking around getting a much needed stroll after such a large, delicious meal.

Although I really enjoyed the history and the beauty of the region, truly the best part of our trip was the house we rented from an American couple, George and Linda. Mulberry Tree Cottage is a beautiful, spacious home away from home. George and Linda were very accomodating as host and thought of every little thing to make our stay comfortable for us. From the welcome note on the fridge and wine and chocolates, to restaurant recommendations and driving us to the store in the nearby village, they were there to help and answer questions. The modern kitchen was completely stocked with every utensil Preston needed to prepare delicious meals, and they even had bathrobes and extra blankets that added an extra touch of comfort. From their English language DVD collection, we watched the Lord of the Rings triology each evening in the cozy living room and although the house is a former abbey, they had wifi!

The house has a huge yard with a heated swimming pool and jacuzzi, gotta try it next time we visit, and the swing set on the property was a welcomed change of pace for us. It really was so peaceful and quiet. I forgot how much I missed having a yard since we have lived in an apartment for the last 18 months. They also own chickens that provided us with fresh eggs every morning. I really enjoyed getting to know George and Linda as well. We will certainly return in the future for another stay and a backyard BBQ when the weather is nicer.

Sleeping in and lazily exploring the country side was a needed change of pace. I love the hustle and activity of European cities, but it is nice to get away for a quiet retreat.