When we arrived in Sarlat on Tuesday evening it had just started raining. It really was the first time we encountered rain so I was glad we decided last minute to grab our small umbrellas. We were trying to find a map of Sarlat at the train station but there were none to be found, and the guy at the information desk just pointed to the general direction of the city center.
On the train to Sarlat, another backpacking couple joined on the train and looked as though they had been hiking in the hills. They were behind us on our way down to city center and oddly enough we discovered on Wednesday morning that we chose the same hotel! We randomly saw them around as well throughout Wednesday.
As we were walking to city center Tuesday evening, my foot was still giving me a lot of trouble (the past few days it has been very swollen and hurts with every step) so I was suggesting we stay at the first hotel we find. However, Ben was insistent on getting to the middle of the city and checking out our options. And I am so glad we did! We happened across the center for tourism, which had just closed, but we did find a map of Sarlat and a hotel guide. We browsed over it and continued walking to find somewhere to stay, since we had been awake a long time! Just that morning we were in Paris!
Standing in on a corner in the pedestrian square, I saw a cat, that looked just like Jude (our cat) but slightly larger. As the cat walked by I looked down this small alley and saw a “Hotel Entrance” sign. So of course I took it as a sign! Ben agreed to check this place out.
Hotel door in alley - Sarlat 009
We were a little hesitant that this was the right place to enter, but as soon as we walked in we were greeted by “Bonjour!”. Oddly enough, he must have known that we speak English, because he started speaking to us in English right away. And yes, they had a room open for Є49, hey that is cheaper than some of our hostels!
Our room at Hotel de la Mairie was so quaint and homey! It had exposed wood beam rafters and a little window that opened up to a great view of the rooftops. I love the fact that they do not use screens in their windows. Love it! AI can stick my head and body out the window and just breathe!
Darcy in the window of our hotel - Sarlat 078
After settling in, we got a recommendation from a person at the hotel to go to L’Entr’Acte Bar-Brasserie for supper and drinks. We did since it was just around the corner. We sat outside and had a pizza, two Amstel’s, and the little cafés to end our meal. Ben was amazed at how great the Amstel’s tasted. All I could think was DUH! That’s why I drink them…
Cafe in Sarlat 048
After dinner we wandered around the village and Ben bough me a gelato cone. Yum, yum chocolate! We took a lot of pictures and finally crashed back at our cute little hotel room at 10:15pm.
Sarlat at night 053
On Wednesday morning I woke up, opened our window to the look of multicolored tents set up and people busying themselves setting up their stands. A huge market with every vendor imaginable! We got ready and had an amazing croissant and coffee at our hotel (while trying to find internet) and headed outside. The owner of the hotel was generous enough to offer up his computer for us to check our email. I did, and was about to write my parents and email, but I realized that some, well, A LOT of the keys were not the same. It was a pain in the butt, but I sent my parents a quick hello (which they did not receive because I typed in the wrong email address! Oops!).
The market outside our hotel window - Sarlat 002
Ben spent some time typing up some blogs while I roamed the market. I learned the hard way what foie gras is. It is goat, geese, or duck liver pâté, in the texture of spam. Yuck!
I also chatted a bit with a man selling vanilla in sticks. He didn’t know much English and I do not know much French, but we tried our best to have a conversation. I continued on and did a bit of shopping. I couldn’t believe all the things available at the market. Things like nuts, candy, wine, oil, bread, fruits, vegetables, pastries, spices, sausages, meat, goat cheeses, seafood and handmade gifts. It was so great!
Fish at the Wednesday market - Sarlat 045
Ben and I took the city by foot and explored lots of angles. After a while we stopped and bought fresh strawberries, nuts and bread and found a stairway to sit and eat our lunch. We came upon another cat that followed us around a little too. As we continued walking around, I was in mid-shot for a picture when Ben starts laughing. I had just stepped in a huge, fresh “le turd.” Not just one foot, both feet! As luck would have it I found a little fountain to somehow swish the poop from my shoes off. Ben had a hay-day making jokes about this the rest of the day.
Washing off le turd - Sarlat 065
We decided this would be a great time to get some gifts for our family and send them as in a care package. We complied a sampling of wine, nuts, soap, oil and spices, as well as some pottery and jewelry. We found some cardboard boxes and wrapped everything up to send. We also sent back some things we didn’t need to Heather to hold until we return. We found the village’s “La Poste” and stood in line for a long time, filled out the necessary forms and were very surprised and disappointed to discover that we cannot send bottles of liquid or food! The mail man helping us described it this way, “In USA, they see package coming from France, the laser sees bottles of liquid and think ‘bomb!’ so they destroy package!” Ok, so the things we bought for our family just replaced the things we sent home. Oh, well, we might have to consume some of the gifts! Sorry family!
We went back to the hotel to regroup, and then out to a pub to have a beer. We were getting pretty hungry so stopped into a restaurant at 6pm, only to discover they were not serving food until 7pm. So, when we returned at 7pm, it was well worth the wait. Our dinner was yummy lasagna, salad, and a carafe of red wine. We finished the meal with a warm chocolate walnut cake with melted egg custard. It was grand!
Oh, and I also found 99% cocoa dark chocolate! Ben thought it was nasty, but I loved it! It is definitely more on the bitter side, but you would really have to aquire a taste for it! I savored it!
Darcy in Sarlat with 99 % dark chocolate!!! eatting it - Sarlat 083
This little village was so picturesque. Every turn around was another beautiful shot. The people were very friendly and if I had to recommend any authentic experience, it would be to take a short vacation to Sarlat. (But make sure you are there for the Wednesday or Saturday market!)
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