Day 11: Sarlat Market

Wednesday was the fruit market, but it was pouring rain so we didn't go.  We'd waited all week for the main market on Saturday, and it delivered!  

The day started out cool and breezy, a little overcast, but no rain.  We were told the market closed at noon, but by the time we got everyone ready to go, it was almost 11.  We finally set off walking to the market.

The center part of Sarlat is the medieval part of Sarlat.  There are small windy streets, some one-way, some stone, and a lot of it is just off limits to cars.  There were people everywhere! Quite a few were speaking English. 

The front part of the market, from where Chips lives, is more clothing and just stuff for sale.  Everything from bras, underwear, shoes, socks, hats, table cloths, towels, decorations, and every manner of tchotchke you could think of.
 
Farther back, you get more into fruits, vegetables, foie gras, sausages, olives, meats, and fish.  There were two booths selling paella, and several olive vendors.  I couldn't count the number of foie gras vendors.  We're pretty much in the middle of Foie Gras Central, so you can't spit without hitting one.

I found a few presents for people, who are reading this blog, so I can't say what they are.  But they're cool!  I'll try to remember to put photos up after I give away the presents.  I also found a summer hat for me.  I've been looking at home so I thought I might as well look abroad too.  It's like a small straw fedora with a brown ribbon around it.

We thought about eating at a cafe in town, but we didn't find one we liked.  Eventually we ended up with half a rotisserie chicken and a pile of fried potatoes.  One of the specialties here is sliced potatoes fried in goose fat.  The rotisserie chicken was really good, and almost falling apart.  And it didn't have that weird flavor that the ones at Sam's have.

After lunch, mom and I went for a drive.  We saw a few chateaus on the hillside, but sometimes couldn't find how to get there.  We went to Domme, which was up in the hills, and we went somewhere else in the hills near Carlux. 

On our way back, we drove to the other side of Sarlat to get gas.  On our way back to Chips' place, we took a wrong turn around a barrier and drove down our normal road in Sarlat.  Which was still full of vendors packing up from the market!  There were one or two other cars coming the other direction, but I think they may have been allowed to do so.  Luckily we made it down the road and around another barrier, and made it home.