Thursday August 16, Lautrec
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| The Pastel dye that is famous in this region |
Ian’s back has been doing really well, but sometimes after a lot of driving the muscles start complaining, as they did this morning after two quite big days on the road. Decided it was a good day to stay put and not head out for a bike ride, and with the temperatures over 30 it seemed a good idea. I thought I would walk up to the old village and have a look around and bring a few supplies back but Ian decided maybe a little exercise might be good so we set off for what we thought was short walk up the track to town. Turned out to be over a km of all uphill walking and with the heat building so was the sweat! Had a number of rest stops on the way but Ian made it. The walk was well worth it though, this really is a fabulous old medieval village that has a real heart, unlike some of the other “Most Beautiful Villages” we have visited. There were many small shops and galleries and intrigued to see so many handmade items dyed a soft pale blue. Evidently it comes from woad that produces a beautiful blue dye and in the 16th and 17th century it made many merchants in this region very wealthy. This is a traditional craft and so good to see it still being used.
Pink garlic is also grown in this region and most shops have strings of it for sale. We wandered the streets loving the medieval history that was oozing everywhere. I was intrigued by the little bunches of barley tied to many of the doors, Ian suggested it was for good luck during the harvest. Don’t really know the answer. Picked up some bread and supplies then headed back to the camper and have enjoyed a very relaxed afternoon. Just a few photos today taken with my small Sony, grateful that I decided not to take my big camera up the hill!
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| Spotted this growing down a bank, Not sure what it is? |
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| Medieaval history everywhere. |
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| Loved all the doors with their barley bunches. |
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