If yesterday when arriving at our vacation spot in the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, we were greeted by rain and snow buffeted night, this morning we woke up with a white all-round view of our surroundings. From the bedroom window, the scene that morning like a carpet of cotton to cover the entire mountain area. Farm land where we were staying out of sight of green grass and the soil, all covered by snow!
Living in a country of four seasons of life may be spelled out in color. Because each of the seasons change, changing patterns of life until the color is also presented by nature. Changes can occur suddenly, such as that. When we arrived, we visited the area still looks colorful but the next day like spilled paint to white evenly.
As I always tell you, I live in southern France, in the warmer regions of France. Then the snow was rarely stop to our city. For example in winter, when the temperature is minus the area north and snow storms, in our city can reach 19 ° C with the sun smiling warmly. Strange but true!
So every time I see snow, every time I delight. For me to see the occasional snow in winter is fun, provided it is not every winter, to be sure I will evacuate from the area!
When we got out of our room outside the house, I nearly tergilincir, because the ladder is full of snow and partially into ice, very slippery. Chambres d'hotes owners were waiting for us to have breakfast together, visible anxiety on their faces.
The first sentence out of their mouths is, "I hope you guys bring a special snow chains for your tires ...!"
With great regret that we said, "Before we left we had thought to bring some reason, our forgetfulness".
"Oh la la .... then how did you get out today, see the snow was so thick and the roads very slippery because of snow into ice!" they replied while shaking his head.
I was relaxed so that follow-up anxiety. But as usual, my husband David Kang aka Dada tried to calm me and try to think positive. He felt that if if we are careful not to be problematic, especially if the car thinks an ice refugee came to pave the way then there would be no problem.
"If the streets are too dangerous to walk around today, it's gone just go back to the inn and make snowmen or snowball war," he said, grinning.
Right as my husband estimates, car refugee main street past the snow looks. Which means snow-covered streets that had been released, but no means too secure. Because the main problem is usually snow that freezes into ice, slippery and dangerous. This has led to frequent accidents.
In the car before leaving, we were amused to see the weather of nature itself. Not that anything before going on vacation, some of our acquaintances astonished because we chose a holiday in areas rich in natural scenery. Which is usually enjoyed in the summer rather than in the winter!
Since the area we chose in the season the weather is often bad, and when the weather is bad then the scene presented can not we enjoy. But the basic properties of the two of us often ngeyel, then the advice of friends we were not too gubris, and that there is now snow we got stuck, just like they suspected!
Now already, we've been here and will not regret. In fact we both holidays may be twice as fun! (Within the meaning of troublesome).
Champollion Figeac City
Like the original plan, the second day we will visit the city of Figeac. Medieval town with a rich cultural heritage. The town is located in the Lot region has a famous museum named Mussée Champollion. Museum of cultural history, especially of the birth of writing.
Of the five corners of the world, Jean-François Champollion without knowing the limits trying to discover who was born the first paper in the world with historical and cultural background. Men born in Figeac in 1790 this is the first that can interpret symbols or writings of the ancient Egyptians. His curiosity makes him a very broad search and explore many countries to uncover the history of ancient writings. Some of the objects and the discovery of ancient writings on display in this museum. Because she was the then French alphabet and can recognize as a tribute to him, he built a museum that bears his name.
The museum is quite large and very beautiful. Two hours is a great time to be able to uncover the entire contents of the buildings that decorated ancient Egyptian writings. Small bit of advice, buy a keychain with ancient writing symbols in this museum, as a souvenir. Besides small and light but enough to give us memories.
Anything that can be visited in the city of Figeac this? Besides Champollion museum, medieval buildings are still standing strong and beautiful in this city should be targeted tourists. If it was not too chilly air, might feel more comfortable walking. Unfortunately little snow still fell ... and my toes felt frozen. Though the snow that fell in this city but not too much cold air is not playing .... My ears until you feel dumb and aching.
Actually, our plan is to spend a night in town with a romantic dinner. Once again, we were not too lucky. The day was December 24, and at night all the restaurants closed.
Our Figeac town surrounded by our guide book containing information several restaurants worth visiting. But until the restaurant without a recommendation from a guide book also says they close at night. In conclusion none of the restaurants are open in the evening. In France, it's Christmas Eve is a family Christmas dinner. So they choose to spend with the family Christmas dinner.
Tired legs are also walking for hours in the cold. Finally, before leaving the city is also renowned as a city where air transportation for the first time in propeller aircraft made of wood, we stopped at a cafe to sip a warm drink and try some sweet cakes which we bought at the bakery.
Cafe is located in an ancient building with stone walls, can cheer us both a little disappointed because they can not spend a romantic evening as planned. But the way our feet arguably very satisfactory, the medieval old town building has always been providing a wealth of eye sight and memory.
That night we returned to the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Hoping at least not in this town there was one restaurant open. Zero is tantamount to another city. For the first time we vacation hunger and cold. Want to go back to where staying is not possible, because the owner did not present that night dinner because of family events. "Horeeee ...!!!" shouted kang Dadang suddenly, makes me a heart attack. "Look there are lights flashing on Chinese writing, rich restaurant!" he said.
Sure enough, apparently the only restaurant open that night. We deh .. Congratulations! instead of nothing, other than a restaurant, all the supermarkets nothing open, and we no longer have any inventory, a loaf of bread was not there! If they are hungry and our current situation such that, stir-fry vegetables also seemed to be ten times more delicious than usual. Fried banana dessert china style too, was tasty and chewy sweet. humans, in a state of gratitude is very limited so multiply ....
Najac
On the third day of our holiday also fell on Christmas day, that morning the dining room was full with other guests as we entered it. Apparently a large family rented three rooms at this inn. Habits of the two of us is when someone else is too close to our table, prefer to choose Indonesian in our conversation. Sometimes a few friends or family often complain because they do not understand or suspect we're gosipin ...
Apparently, we draw attention to their conversation, and the atmosphere was a little frozen because we did not know each other and there is some reluctance to liquid, starting from the question one of the guests is, "Excuse me .. what language are you using? Beautiful once hearing". Then breakfast with a variety of landlord-made fruit jam on toast becomes increasingly prevalent with our conversation.
After breakfast and would like Christmas to the owner and guest accommodation, we prepare a bag for a tourist destination on the day it came to the City of Najac. Snow was still down and headed to the City Najac road taken very steep because it must pass through the winding valley and then uphill.
My husband was self-confident look choose sidestep steep road and stopped. Because during our trip was very slippery roads, and driving on the street that should not be slippery by snow put the brakes on because it can make the car skidded and spun, dangerous. Residents are accustomed to the climate of their regular snow tires specifically or by way of the tire fitted with a special chain. We do not have both.
Interval of five minutes, a car coming from opposite directions. My husband gave the cue to ask if the car is stopped. After the car had stopped in a safe place, my husband asked about the road toward Najac, if possible with a special car without tires.
Apparently the driver was also not use special tires, the car is very small and even older than our cars. With a giggle the riders who turned out to city residents Najac stated, "Take it easy, the road was too dangerous really. Car sturdy so you'll never have a problem".
So we continue the trip, but apparently there was no problem for the rider had a problem for us. I got to hold your breath for a car running, I see my husband as gripping the steering wheel. Understandably, we were not really familiar with the road conditions like this.
Once the road starts to climb and the road starts to look a little clear of snow, I could only sit back in the car seat. And our eyes were immediately collided with a panoramic ... magnifique! A large fortress towering over the hill. The fortress is very famous in the medieval town.
Upon entering the town, an officer was watering the streets with salt handy to melt the frozen snow. Our car was no longer able to continue the journey because the road is more slippery, even when trying to park our cars had derailed, fortunately not to hit anything.
This is called vacation funny. When I came out of the car, gubrak! I immediately fell in! The pain was not playing my ass. Apparently the road is really slippery. Wear a special shoe that was not too helpful, especially mine had a problem in the balance, not just slick slick less often slip so ...!
Towards fortress Najac must walk about 1 km. Ride down the road. I walk by holding her husband's shoulder. Many times I screamed because it slip. Between upset, scared and also funny. When my husband fell slipped, so his wife carried on the existing upset me so many times. But if you remember it now so I amused myself, must be a spectacle that time we were locals, because it limped and fell.
One kilometer we normally take only about 10 minutes into the trip as endless. The cold air did not feel anymore, I sweat the stress! Road in the snow is not too difficult even shaved ice but soft like a walk on the frozen snow like walking on ice, slippery!
A grandfather from the opposite direction we were asking for help because she could no longer advance to the shoe. He asked to buy bread at the bakery. Kang Dadang who actually could not bring myself trouble to walk the old man refusing the request. So I waited for her husband with her grandfather in the middle of the road not moving kepeleset fear. My advice, if you want to vacation in this area, avoid coming in the winter like we do. Miserable on the road. He-he ...
The grandfather was thrilled to bread has been obtained and we continued the journey.
Najac fort closed in december! Written notice board. Whether angry or upset that makes us laugh until the tears myself. Looming tension over the car and walk to the falls several times, for the sake of the castle! Fate, it seems we do have to go back. However Najac fortress that was built in 1253 by Aphonso Ditahun de Poitiers this, we can see from the outside. Not why not enter our guman time. Because the fort which was originally a royal castle and turned into a fortress in time of war, is a masterpiece.
From the top of the hill panorama of natural beauty which was like a white cotton studded makes us sigh. Najac wonder if the city was selected as one of the most beautiful cities in France .... The beauty of nature is indeed a priceless gift that often make the emotion of the human heart.