My first adventure! (Well, it's the second areally, but the first on the blog.)
I was off to Limoges for the weekend with my colleague Ann and her good friend, Kay. We just fancied a wee break, and since we all like porcelain, Limoges seemed like a good bet. Not to mention the £29.50 rtn air fare!
Ryanair have started a few new flights from Edinburgh. Now, Ryanair may scare some of you, but if it means flying from a convenient and small local airport to an even smaller, although not necessarily more convenient, local airport, then Ryanair is for me! In this case, the airport at Limoges was both bijoux
and convenient, and the trip going and coming back was efficient and on time - I just love that bugle call as. just after touch down, the in-flight tannoy announces that it has been "yet another on-time flight with Ryanair, the world's favourite airline"! Ahem!
Limoges is a quiet little town, but quite elegant. The porcelain business has obviously brought in a bit of cash - or maybe its all those wealthy Limousin cattle farmers. Looking at restaurant menus, there are no vegetarians in this place.
The hotel was one of those French chains, but really nice and right in the centre of town next to Galeries Lafayette, whatever that is. The girls were quite excited, though. Just as well we were looking for peace and quiet because we found it. Limoges kinda shut down Saturday evening until mid day Monday. But we still had a good time.
We ate in a really fab restaurant on Friday night -
la Vache au Plafond, and there really was a cow on the ceiling! Kay and Ann decided it must be made of something very light, like papier maché, but the cow just winked at me - we, supposedly, inanimate objects know better!
I hooked up with a new chum, Limo, on Saturday afternoon, and after hearing about my plans for the summer he decided to come back to Edinburgh with us. We did a bit of shopping but I was a bit hot in my jumper so I went back to the hotel for a nice cuppa and shower. Then I fell asleep listening to my Rupert the Bear audio book.
I was sorry to miss out on the little tourist train ride with the girls. Apparently the driver kept stopping to 'entertain' the ladies of the town who all rushed out of their shops and tearooms to embrace him. He was popular with the menfolk too, but they only shook his hand. I suppose he needs some other activity to pass the time when the train is put away for the winter.
But I was out and about with the girls on Sunday when, after a long Sunday lunch in another super restaurant, we visited the porcelain museum. I got a few closeups, although my fussy companions kept pointing out the 'ne touche pas' notices and told me I would get them thrown out!
Then it was all over. After a final lunch of croque monsieur, frites and glass of rosé (it has to be done!) it was back to the airport. Actually, not quite over, because we sat in the little garden with a panaché and ate lovely fresh peaches which had been warmed in the sun.
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So it's back to the office for now. So far the weather's been not too bad but can't wait until 20th May when I'm off to Greece with Kate. Liz is going to knit me a lightweight T-shirt - I think the jumper is going to be too hot for me there!
