

By the early 15th century St-Céré became a very important crossroads for trading merchants from Asia, Africa and Northern Europe and that tradition continues today with a very large open market here on every 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month ... we'll see you there!




“Our culture does not condone the torture of innocent and defenseless creatures.” Joe Moore - Chicago Alderman
“Foie gras has been around since the age of cuisine. Some animals are raised for food. They’re raised to die.” Rick Tramanto - Chef at “Tru” in Chicago


(Steve, Bobbi & Martine seeking forgiveness of sins!)

Martine named this iceberg - Escargot ... what foresight!



OUR Sunday lunch was with neighbors, Caroline & Ray, at Auberge Beauville. The current proprietors took over the auberge in 1930 and the family has served exactly the same menu ... every Sunday since. Hey, if it works don’t mess with it! Here is what we have:

a bientôt! Jack
a fun 9 holes of golf, we’ve got the Château de Montal just 10 minutes from Rancho Escargot ... a little known fact: the French Résistance had the Mona Lisa and other treasures of the Louvre hidden here throughout WWII!





UN MOMENT! I'm going to take a little break from espousing the beauty and wonders of the Haut-Quercy. Our hard earned US dollars are tanking in the international currency markets and, just this morning, it was at USD 1.429 against the Euro and still falling faster than a "Base-Jumper" off the Eiffel Tower by all analyst accounts.
Aren't we all fortunate to have you in the driver's seat! 
You made it easy for Martine and I to see it was time to get out of Dodge. But we never anticipated the real havoc you could instill on the American dollars we depend on ... now worth less than a Canadian? Again, nice work! I guess, we should not be surprised, it appears there is no end to your business acumen or management skills.
The Big Mac Index (and this is a new 'index' to us!) indicates you've got America's inflation on the rise ... hey! don't forget the once mighty & now anorexic buck stops on your desk.
Now that we are residents of the Euro Zone there is no gravity for our €uro currency thanks to you, just the ever shrinking spending power with the US dollars we exchange. We just pray we won't have to give up excellent Bordeaux and Foie Gras for a Coke & Big Mac. Zut Alors! Jack
PS-Rancho Escargot is still affordable in 2008 CLICK HERE for reservations and information
OVERLOOKING the banks of the Dordogne River and Calypso Island, our village of Carennac is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in all of France.
Carennac dates back to the eleventh century (1050AD) built by Benedictine monks, their priory's coffers grew rich from pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela.
The real magic of our village is how you can feel yourself literally propelled back in-time to the Middle Ages ... wandering through the tiny streets with leaning houses and overhanging wooden balconies it’s easy to imagine you’re back in 16th century France.

-- making for very happy travellers! 

The Plus Beaux Villages de France association was founded in 1982 by Charles Ceyrac, formerly mayor of Collonges-la-Rouge, with the aim of conserving and promoting the heritage of "the most beautiful villages in France". To qualify, villages must meet a number of demanding pre-conditions, set by the association to ensure the label is awarded on the basis of a selection process that is nothing if not rigorous. "In addition to three basic conditions - less than 2,000 inhabitants, two registered or listed sites, and the unanimous agreement of the municipal council - the village must also pursue a policy to preserve its natural heritage that is reflected in its area