We leave the lake and head to Montingac. We want to be there earlyish in the day because if you arrive late at this time of year you may not get in. Most people in aires only stay one or two nights and take off so you usually know someone will move off and well before lunchtime. We dont have far to go but it still takes us about 2 hours. We have to travel on smaller roads as Montingac is not near highways. It is on the river Vezeres and into the Dordogne region. We arrive and park up. It is Tuesday and we have been told that on market wednesday all the locals park their cars where vans only are supposed to go, which we think is quite rude as we have nowhere else to park here, but cars have.
We walk into the village and it is very old, probably 13th century houses with tiny streets and alleyways. Along one part they have set up an area for the homeless cats which is great to see. They have on board a vet who has desexed most of them already and the locals and tourists put food out for them to mlive on and there is bedding for them to sleep on in the winter. There are no cats there when we pass so we go back later to give any of them that want it pats and cuddles. The village is lovely. The river quite brown, but i guess it has a muddy bottom and any rain will cause it to look awful. On all the shop windows an artist has painted some hilarious pictures, as this village is getting the Tour de France coming through on the 10th of July. It has entered our minds to be back here when it is on as that would be just something spectacular. The photo below was in a pharmacy window. Each picture is relevant to the type of shop it is painted on. The hairdresser has a cyclist having a cut, the wine store, them having a vino etc, really quite cool. We have a further wander, visit the tourist bureau for brochures and then go back to the van. As we are sitting there several fighter jets fly over us several times making horrendous noise and it is a bit unnerving but apparently this is in preparation for Bastille day.
We go for a wander after tea to see the cats and have a drink. A few cats are there for a pat and a little way on i come across the most gorgeous brown burmese cat which i initially thought must have been homeless but later found out it belonged to the owner of a cafe. I would probably have adopted it if id found out it was homeless. We go to have a drink but the prices at the open restaurants are ridiculous. I guess they can charge it as this is a popular place for tourists. 7.80euro for a 500ml. So we find the cheapest place, have a cold drink and head home. It is a stinking night and everyone is sitting outside even though it is getting late. It is still about 26deg at 11pm and is so difficult to sleep, but we are all in the same boat. We leave our windows open for any sign of a breeze but i just hate that as i never feel safe doing it. Scot is snoring in 2 mins while i lay awake until it starts to cool down enough to doze off.
We get thunderstorms the next morning and no wonder. The market is on and it is ok as it is just really fresh produce. A local patisserie has fresh raspberry tarts for 2euro each and we buy some. They are to die for and we go back for a couple more for the next day. We walk back around the village to buy a few things as well as some cat food of course – how can i not? We get back to signs saying we must all be out by 8am the next morning as wipper snipping is taking place and they want us gone,
After dinner we head back into the village to feed the cats and give the lovely burmese one last cuddle and pat and Scot a cold bottle of Leffe Blonde which is becoming his fav. The cats get lots of biscuits but i give them a treat of wet food and they love it. Another hot night, and an early alarm set so we are out on time.
