Day 53: A Sunday drive (mainly) in France

Disclaimer: All voyages in this blog are being taken safely in the comfort of our imaginations - based on our plans and intentions for travel in 2020. What is reality after all? 

We bid a fond farewell to Tolosa - and to Spain - with a mid morning departure. This was the longest drive of the whole trip (at around 5 hours ... stretched a little more with a stop for lunch). So we had to rapidly bypass places we'd otherwise delight in visiting: Donostia/San Sebastian, Biarritz, Bayonne, Pau, Tarbes - but we finally broke this trip at the small town of Lannemezan. Why there? (Well, it wasn't for the 10-pin bowling alley, which comes up as the #3 attraction in the town!)

Rather, there was a recommended home-based restaurant there, at an appropriate spot on the day's travel:

We were a little hesitant in approaching this restaurant, which is set in a suburban house a little south of the town centre (with parking out front):

as we were unsure whether it would, in fact, be open for lunch on a Sunday. But we needn't have worried because, against our fears, there was a sign on the door:

This was Planet Veggie - perhaps an antidote to our carnivorous over-indulgence of last night. It is reputed to be the best vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the area, and rarity for southern France. It was very welcoming, with indoor and outdoor seating areas in a home-like environment:

There was a wide variety of food on offer, much with a Moroccan influence. We could see these dishes being prepared for others:

and finally settled on this for ourselves:

leaving room for dessert (but still no banana splits!):

Onwards after lunch to Toulouse, where we met up with Francois Bloque from the Ma Case agency and record label, with whom we'd been communicating. We met him near the Garonne river, not far from where he lives, and swapped some music from Australia (thanks Wantok) for his generosity:

But, having delayed over lunch, we were now a little behind schedule, so this was a quick meeting - and onwards to our destination: Saint Antonin Noble Val.

As we came off the big motorway and drove along the D roads, the scenery became much more interesting, and we started winding down into river gorges, with white cliffs amongst the trees:

We were getting close, and suddenly we were in this small town, and located the car park that we had picked out, on the edge of the old quarter:

Across the road was an entrance to the old town (from this side), so we trundled our suitcases down the street, into a narrow alley:

and round a corner:

and into a place that is one of the loveliest historic squares in the village. It was the site of St Antonin's communal oven and is now home to a wisteria covered pergola and large curved seating area to evoke the old oven:

Our accommodation is a studio apartment there - the Studio Four Neuf:

The studio comes directly off the square, but inside, the old stone walls that partially surrounded the oven have been preserved and keep the room delightfully cool on the hottest days. The pleasant English-background owner (who has lived in the town for 15 years) met us there, and showed us round the light-filled and airy spaces. The main room consists of the bed area (with wardrobe and dresser) and the living area (comfortable sofa and chairs, a table for two and a large desk):

The studio’s separate kitchenette is simple but well equipped: 

and the bathroom has a washing machine - and a shower!:

There's a bit of walled garden to relax in:

After settling in and stocking up with some breakfast produce locally, we went for a bit of a local stroll as the sun was getting lower (but these are long evenings) - to the market square, with its old stone pillared and covered market. There had been a lively market here (and in other streets) this morning - but we were much too late:

Here (joy, oh joy) we found a Vietnamese restaurant called Birdy Nem Nem (we missed these so much in Spain and Portugal!):

 It was right near the covered market, with tables outside, so we settled in for an evening meal (eating now earlier than in Spain and Portugal). The menu was not extensive, but offered enough to keep us happy:

We each chose a bo-bun (salad) as well as some entrees:

and emerged into the darkened and magical square to find out way back to our studio:

We're here for a couple of days, both exploring the town, and also driving around some of the little local villages.