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European Adventure 2017
As this is our last half day on the boat we set off to look at the Farmers market a short distance away. There were beautiful fruits and meats on offer but as we didn't have the Motorhomes and had a taxi ride back to Agen ahead of us we just looked and took in the lovely smells. Coffee in town and a look around the museum and photo opportunity with the Musketeers and that was the morning done. Condom is nice but much more commercial than Nerac and a bit more tired looking. We wonder how the French businesses actually make money as they seem to open and close as it suits them. The Armagnac distillery for example stated it was open Saturdays until 5pm and we turned up at 3.50 to be told they had decided to close. Most businesses close at 12 and that includes banks, museums, places of interest, most restaurants, most shops and even supermarkets. They can then re-open whenever they feel like it really, often at 2.30 but sometimes as late as 3 and then sometimes not at all if they don't feel like it! A bit tricky if you are a tourist looking for things to do. The long promised rain complete with thunder and lightning arrived just as we got back to the Locaboat base and started packing the Motorhomes. No supermarkets open as it was Sunday afternoon so we headed off towards a France Passion site at the Museum du Foie Gras not too far outside Agen at a place called Frespech. I had commented earlier in the day "I wonder where we will end up tonight" and as we drove towards this free camping/small business site it became evident with the rolling hills, the crops including the sunflowers that it would be something special. We could not have imagined what we were about to experience. Tucked in the back of beyond is this amazing farm with a retail shop, museum and of course tastings (or degustations as they are in France). Here they farm, slaughter and process ducks into foie gras (duck liver), different types of pate, salami type sausage, duck meat, duck casseroles, and dozens of different variances of the above. The museum was interactive and interesting with a video and beautiful static displays. We have been invited to watch the ducks being dispatched tomorrow morning as Monday Is D day for Ducks apparently but I'm not sure that that is on our 'to do' list in France. After parking up our Motorhomes for a week there was no where to replenish our supplies so our night of 'free' parking gave us the opportunity to purchase dinner and a few treats for on the road. Dinner tonight is Casserole of Confit de canard (casserole of duck). We also have nothing for breakfast at this point but the nice lady from the shop has offered to buy croissants for us for breakfast as she will be back here in the shop at 9am tomorrow.
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Jane Just caught up with several entries after a busy weekend. Love the pictures and commentary, keep them coming. Have a safe land trip.
mum Sad to come to the end of the boat trip. You will have lovely memories. Did you taste the pate fois. Gras? Do they force feed the birds asvthey used to or has that practice been stopped? I hope so. Enjoy being on the road again.
Jo Kidd 3 ye yes they still force feed the Ducks. We could have watched that but chose not to. We did see a video at the museum which showed it and I was amazed that the Ducks just sat there without struggling at all. They were out in the fields wandering around as well. I did end up seeing the production line in the end. Not too horrific as the killing was out the back. Tried the foie gras which was very nice.