psuper

Our arrival in France was uneventful and that’s a good thing.  From a speedy run through Immigration, Customs, luggage, van pick-up by car leasing agent, car acquisition, and a quick review of the Navigation System….we were off to the Dordogne.  Travel angst reduced from logistics to whether or not the B&B we selected was going to be as good as the website depicted.  So we headed out though mid-morning traffic from the airport, through the outskirts of Paris, which was bumper-to-bumper the entire way…..our first 2 hours in the car…..all on a day which was on the way to a record high temperature.

It was 7 hours later when we arrived at La Brugere and were greeted warmly by Patrick, one of our hosts.  This is our place to stay for 3 nights, where we relax from the air travel, and get acclimated to our new time zone.  We have done this for a few years now….powering through the first day upon arrival, and not sleeping until at least 9:00 PM local time…..and it seems to work…we slept for almost 12 hours straight that first night.  Powered through the next two days as well with almost the same amount of sleep for the next two nights as well.

La Brugere could not have been more wonderful for a place to stay and recuperate.  It exceeded all expectations, especially the hospitality of our hosts and owners of La Brugere, Raphael and Patrick.  La Brugere is large manor home, once used by the owner of a large paper mill that is still on the property.  Raphael is a chef, and our evening meals were truly gourmet.  An example, for a starter: melon balls with smoked duck breast drizzled with olive oil, and fresh basil…..for an entree: chicken breasts stuffed with mushrooms and cheese….everything local and organic.  Our breakfasts’ were leisurely and included all you might want: croissants, jams, cured meats, cheese, bread, fresh fruit, yogurt, etc.   Long hours at the pool added to our rest…bowls of sorbet delivered by Patrick added to our relief from the heat.  So much for B&B selection angst.

By far however, the most delightful part of our stay were the many terrace and dining room conversations with our hosts.  They have a wonderful story to tell about La Brugere and themselves……they have wide interests well beyond their home in the Dordogne, and have traveled extensively.  Serious and interesting conversation never lagged.

So, after being refreshed and recharged, it was time to deal with my angst over our home for the next 5 months…….will it be as nice as I recall when we visited?  We were unable to see the inside due to a guest renting the home, so will it be as nice as the pictures?  Will it meet expectations?  Doesn’t it have to regardless?  What choice will we have?Let’s get on the road and find out.