R & R

The weather, after nearly two weeks of temperatures in the 30s (nineties) dropped over the past three days, accompanied by rain and mist and in the morning; a rolling fog that blankets the surrounding hillsides. For two days it was 12 degrees. Wonderful! The fields around Figeac, brown when I arrived, are all a verdant green.

And I have run a 10K or more nearly every morning, luxuriating in the cool mornings.

I went to Google! and discovered that our hottest day in the Medoc region, 37 degrees Celsius, was the equivalent of 99 degrees F! And the day of the Medoc Marathon, when the mercury hit 34 degrees C, was 94 F. Amazing weather in which to run a marathon...

Have enjoyed aimlessly wandering the countryside and the innumerable small villages around Le Lot, the region surrounding Figeac. Chateaux and cathedrals, grand houses with turrets, castle walls bristling with more turrets and ramparts and arrow slits everywhere. Houses and streets and courtyards and cul de sacs dating back to the middle ages. And before! Celts and Gauls and Romans and Saracens and Moors have all roamed these hills... And Neolithic peoples before them, following the ice as it retreated after the last two ice ages. Think of that, not once, but twice!

The people of the South West of France are very friendly and universally welcoming. Truly a feat of hospitality when you recognize that Figeac, with a population of some 9,600, welcomes over a quarter of a million tourists through its streets every year.

And, in honour of the French paradox, I am actually leaning out again. Credit the morning runs - today 10K in 50 minutes - a light breakfast of fruit, and a self-imposed rule of only one serving per course at mealtimes. And an eagle eye on the cheese and bread consumption.

Heading back to Paris in a few days. Will miss this part of France and its wonderful people.