Slumming it in France

Last week we had the pleasure of upping the ante a little in the comfort stakes and holidaying with the fam in southern France. After a year of straw mattresses, grimy hostel kitchens and scary suicide showers we were pretty happy when we saw our little shack in Carennac. 

 

Carennac itself wasn't exactly an eyesore either, qualifying as one of France's 'most beautiful villages' in a region where pretty much every village is jigsaw puzzle perfect. Ahhhhh, we're a long way from the exposed electric cables and shattered pavements of Latin America. 

Of course, being in France, we set about consuming vast amounts of wine, stinking cheese and terrines of questionable origin almost immediately. Shopping is so much more an adventure when you don't speak the language. Of course, if you've ever looked at the ingredients list on a jar of terrine you'll realise that not knowing what you're eating can only heighten the joy of eating it.

When we weren't drinking wine and lazing by the pool we were off exploring the rather lovely Dordogne Valley. We checked out Rocamadour (which although it didn't make the cut for the most beautiful villages, wasn't exactly hideous), a medieval sanctuary, fortress and village all clinging precariously to the side of a mountain. 

 

Then we took to the Dodogne River itself and hired some kayaks to paddle downstream from Vayrac to Gluges. 

And then, rather randomly, we went to see monkeys!! Yes, monkeys. 

Despite having fuck all to do with France, the Monkey Forest in Rocamadour is way up on my favourite French stuff list. The sanctuary is home to around 130 Barbery Macaques, an endangered species from Northern Africa and it is FREAKING AWESOME. On arrival you get a handful of popcorn to feed to the monkeys (don't worry, no butter or salt) and they take it right out of your hand! And since the park has been responsible for reintroducing more than 600 individuals into the wild in Africa you even get to feel good about having so much fun!