Two magnificent rentable properties in the picturesque Dordogne and Lot regions of France.
07/05/2025
Blog 1: We Arrived
I’ve decided to write short blogs about our trip, which you might (or might not!) want to read.
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The Journey Begins
After beginning our journey on Sunday the 4th, we arrived in Beaulieu on Tuesday, May 6th, after a stopover in Singapore and a brief night’s rest in Paris. We managed five hours’ sleep before boarding the train to Brive at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The trip from Melbourne to Paris seemed interminably long—and I daresay, I ponder why. After so many similar trips, it still feels just as long. I can hear you thinking aloud! Age!
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Brive and a Welcome Bite
At 1 p.m. that same day, we arrived at Brive, aware that our onward regional train to Bretenoux might be interrupted by strikes.
With heart in mouth, we learnt the regional train was operational. Phew!
With an hour and 15 minutes to kill—and feeling very hungry—we wandered over to The Grand Hotel, just opposite the station, for a bite to eat. The hotel is beautiful, and the staff very welcoming.
Seated at a small table, I got to try out the French I’ve been diligently studying. I told the Maître d’ we had “seulement une heure”—only an hour to spare.
She understood perfectly.
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An Unexpected Culinary Delight
The menu was a little tricky, being the three-course Plat du jour. If only we had time! Fortunately, we spotted a Caesar salad and ordered it partager (to share). This is very normal in France—no raised eyebrows.
Neil couldn’t resist the crème brûlée, which turned out to be absolutely divine.
When our salad arrived, the waitress kindly informed us they had split the portion onto two plates. A relief—because the portions were generous!
I’ve never had a Caesar salad like it. On a bed of crisp lettuce, dressed in a delicious sauce, were slices of delicately fried chicken escalopes, hard-boiled egg quarters, crunchy croutons, and a generous sprinkle of fresh Parmesan.
It was, honestly, deliciousness on a plate.
Alongside came a basket of that signature fresh French bread and two little carafes of wine. We wished we had more time to savour it all, but with the train soon departing, we wolfed it down.
(And yes… I discreetly wrapped the leftover bread in a napkin and popped it into my tote bag—for later. Mon Dieu! I was glad I did.)
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Arrival in Beaulieu
An hour after boarding, we reached Bretenoux, where our manager and friend, Emily, was waiting to drive us to Beaulieu.
It was such a joy to walk into our little apartment—aired, made up, and ready for us.
A few hours later, around 7 p.m., we fell into bed and didn’t stir until 8 a.m. the next morning.
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Back to Familiar Rhythms
This morning, I popped up to the Wednesday market and spotted some gorgeous red geraniums—perfect for the window boxes. It’s the Fête de la Fraise (Strawberry Festival) on Sunday, and we want everything looking lovely.
I also picked up fresh croissants and a slice of custard tarte (my favourite).
Neil is currently attempting to get the old Jag going with a freshly charged battery. If all goes well, we’ll make a dash to the supermarché later to stock up.
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And So It Begins…
There’s something surreal and comforting about slotting right back into a rhythm that feels so familiar.
The weather is a little cool, and the wall heaters are on—but it looks like it’ll fine up for the weekend.
Perfect.
