So we figured that instead of our usual quirky TR, this time we're just going to mention the locales that we visited along with bare bones descriptors. If any travelers might have any questions, we'll try to help. Mrs Z and I intend to inflict our fotos from this trip on you all further down the road (we're real busy just now). We'll also post this same same over on other sites in hopes of getting enough 'likes' to finally earn our sparkly red armband.
Itinerary:
Paris, flew to Conques for Fest of Ste Foy-- 4 nights; Villefranche de Rouergue (9 nights at excellent gite rental de Maison Pago/Pierre et Thierry); don't miss St. Joseph Lycee's 'Restaurant d'application', where teens make, then serve lunch as part of training; incredible story of the 'Croat Rebellion' here in Sept. '43, wherein Muslim conscripts rebelled against their cruel Nazi SS officers and held out for a couple days (how did this never become a Hollywood movie?!); nice bridge and river.
Belcastel (4 nights at hotel Vieux Pont, whose restaurant is worth crossing an ocean for; remarkable views from both the well-known castle/art gallery plus the less well-known and distant 'Les Chaises du Seigneur' vista; this is the rural Occitaine heartland; Figeac (12 nights at superb splurge farmhouse rental 'Les Deux Sources' overlooking Cele valley in nearby hamlet 'Roussilhe' (this is actually considered The Lot); received multiple phone calls there from strange woman posing as the traveler/writer/sleep enthusiast 'St Cirq'; Daytrips to Faycelles and Capdenac le Haut--both are wonderful perched villages with excellent views, zero tourists and 1 or 2 restaurants.
Finally back to Paris: 3 night rental of a house (yes a house) in the Charonne/St. Blaise area, just south of Pere Lachaise Cemetery, right next to the Buzevenal metro stop; met American TV personality Drew Carey with his young posse @ Jim Morrison's gave at Pere Lachaise; pondered Parisian rain during walk of close by 'Campagne a Paris' district of old village homes; read copy of Tchou's book Guide de Paris Amoureaux; shopped at nearby Auchon supermarket; enjoyed massage at atmospheric venue literally beside our front door.
I am done. The end.