The Best Trip Ever

Adventure #1

So last night we're having dinner at L'Octroi, the little bistro we liked so much last week, on their terrace under one of those big canvas sun shades that covers most of the terrace. Suddenly there's a HUGE clap of thunder, and it begins to pour.

We’re in the center of the covered area, perfectly dry, so we watch as people sitting at tables around the edges are moved either closer to the center or indoors. But the rain continues, so before long, the staff of the restaurant is standing on tables around the edges of the cover laughing and poking with brooms to try to push off the water that’s accumulating on top.

Apparently those shades have an automatic safety feature, because suddenly it decides it’s had enough and starts to fold up, leaving us all out in the pouring rain!

About 20 people grab what they can – Frank took his cake, but I have my priorities straight so I took my wine – and run inside.

I was amazed at how well the restaurant personnel handled it. Within a few minutes, they had tables set up and everyone was back to eating dinner as if nothing had happened.

Adventure #2

We’re driving back to Sarlat this afternoon from a beautiful drive and lunch in Monpazier when suddenly a stone wall on the edge of the road leaps out and scrapes the side of the car, damaging the passenger door! At least that’s my version of the story, although Frank’s is much less imaginative.

He’s just spent an hour or so on the phone sorting everything out with American Express and Europcar, and we’ll be picking up a different car, one that doesn’t leak rain in the passenger door, tomorrow morning.