04/08/2017 A luncheon at La Cigogne in Soyaux

Maximum temperature 25C, minimum 16C.   8 km/h SW winds with 17 km/h gusts.  Dry.

Arriving at the restaurant

Beautiful views in every direction...

as above.

The owner always walks out to welcome her guests.

The menu.

Amuuse-bouche, plus a small melon drink not photographed.

I missed the photo on the second course, but Nigel had Cabillaud on a bed of courgettes for mains..

and I had stuffed chicken breast with parsnips and potatoes

Strawberry millefeuille  for desert, and of course wine and cafe noir..

In the gardens is this waterfall with goldfish hiding under the bank.

Loved this pottery, there were several of them and I suspect they are lights.

Looking back through the tunnel...

Which many, many years ago was a mushroom farm growing them for export so I believe.

Nearly back home driving through Taponnat-Fleurignac.  The new boulangerie on the left which opened quite recently.

10/11/2016 Join us on a drive to a restaurant for lunch and Nigel's birthday.

Maximum temperature 14C, minimum 7C.  45 km/h NW wind.  2mm of rain overnight.

Apologies for marks on the photos, it was raining on and off and I was trying to miss the windscreen wipers!

A short trip on the main road... 

then through the Charente forests...

with autumn colours...

and views.

Crossing La Touvre where a pair of swans were swimming.

Through narrow villages...

passing interesting architecture....

and a church I nearly missed with what I believe to be a ginkgo biloba tree.

A surprise arrival at the restaurant - apparently these caves were used for growing mushrooms in the very early 1900's..

the other side of the tunnel...

and the view from the restaurant.

Driving home an autumn border...

the main street of La Rochefoucauld...

Looking up...

as above...

and looking down.

We had a great lunch, highly recommended.