Picnic in the Old Port of Bergerac

Decided to take a picnic, so while Bill went to Monpazier to get some necessary provisions, I prepared to picnic. We first called at Beaumont - but apart from the church and the XIIC gateway, it provided very little in the way of aesthetic or cultural or historical pleasures! Got back in the car - after dropping my éclair on the car park - I picked it up - more the worse for wear - they make them tough around here! We wandered on towards Bergerac, finally finding a space for a picnic - not very salubrious - l’ordure du cheval around us. Went on our way refreshed to end up on the quay in the Old Port at Bergerac. The boats used to arrive there - mainly from Holland, but other places as well, to collect wood and tobacco. We visited the tobacco museum - very interesting but they had no cards on it at all - a few expensive books, and that’s all - their collection of pipes is phenomenal. A lot of ancient buildings, very pretty part of the town. When we got there, there was a big wine festival and ‘ealings’ - which rather spoilt the otherwise perfect views of the buildings. There was a linoge ‘pot’ shop as well. Rather expensive to say the least! We walked into the modern town and viewed the shops, and when we got back, we couldn’t get the car off the quay, as there was only one way out and cars had blocked off any exits! Eventually one driver turned up and a procession of cars filed out! A cloudy start to the day, but finishing well.