In The Mood



I've travelled many hundreds of miles these last few weeks visiting family and friends with hardly a minute to myself. Driving back from Toulouse airport the other day my thoughts turned to down time and festive affairs. Without any travel itineries to occupy my thinking it dawned on me that it really is very near to Christmas.



My flight had been delayed by a couple of hours due to bad weather which left me covering the last twenty minutes drive in the dark cutting through Sarlat as this is the easiest route home.

This is the first time I've seen the lights here this year. Being delayed ain't so bad, I'd have missed them during daylight, that would have been my loss.




I feel that retail glow, I really do. The Marchand de Vin offering a veritable tonic.



The Patisserie creating confection too pretty to eat.



Still best I really love those lights.



Just one bright white, no neon glitz.



Strolling, window shopping, making plans, just be.




Roll on Christmas

Comments

  1. An elegance in their simplicity.(A refreshing change from all our plastic santas and tinsel-round-palm-trees!)
    Thankyou.

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  2. SO beautiful and how wonderful of you to share.

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  3. Those are the first pollarded trees I would call attractive. Merry Christmas to you!

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  4. Elegant decorations ~ I'm so pleased you were delayed.

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  5. I really enjoyed these lights. Beautiful streetscapes decked out for the holidays.

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  6. Yes, 'roll on Christmas', Rob! Thanks for the stunning display, beauty that I would someday love to see. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

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  7. Actually, you making it by day would have been all our loss. Thank you for the pictures - tres jolie!

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  8. Wonderful. Puts our local lights to shame here.

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  9. Very exquisite lighting Rob! There is a lot to be said for simplicity. Great delay! The window displays are beautiful and tempting too. I love those old trees . . . the girth of the trunks with the hard pruned tops (pollard) . . . striking with the lights. They remind me of my linden, poor thing, I never moved so it could grow to its 60 feet. I cut it back each year. I have seen them all over Europe in the past but never thought I would have my own Linden topiary. I wonder what these trees are. I hope you get more down time and enjoy the holidays!

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  10. Rob, what delightful pictures! Nostalgic, romantic, elegant, tasteful... Old world at its best. How I love it! Have a warm, cozy, relaxing Holiday season!

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  11. Sarlat is a magical place without the lights but this is fantastic. Glad your plane was late. Thanks so much for sharing. Dciane

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  12. The contrast between the very contemporary lights and the old streetscape is just beautiful!

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  13. Love the seasonal view of Sarlat.

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  14. What simple understated elegance Rob ~ quite magical. We can learn much from our continental cousins when it comes to Christmas decorations. Hope that you enjoyed catching up with friends and family, although you will no doubt be ready to really unwind now that you are back to your own hearth.

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  15. Oh Rob!!! That is the most beautiful place ever! Every single thing you have shared with us melts my heart into a puddle. I am bookmarking this to share and gaze upon over and over. :-)
    Frances

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  16. Spectacular! I've never seen lights draped over the streets like that. That is so cool.

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  17. Hey Rob!

    Just thought you'd like to know your blog got an admiring shout out from Patty Craft (editor of Horticulture Magazine) on her Facebook page. Well deserved, I might add - your photos are always a treat to see.

    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1657632115#!/profile.php?id=1660281382

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  18. Some nice ideas for street lighting during the holidays. Loved the first two photos especially.

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  19. Rob, wishing you and family a very happy christmas time.
    cariños

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  20. I'd be standing under those lights and gazing in the Patisserie longingly!

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  21. The glow, the lights, the old world architecture... it's all so magical.

    Rob, if I don't see you before Christmas ;)... many blessings to you! It has been wonderful to share with you this past year.

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  22. Understated and subtle always works best, doesn't it.
    Thank you for the lovely pictures - so peaceful and they make such a beautiful statement.

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  23. You are so blessed to live in such a beautiful town

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  24. Those lights are amazing - so European and a bit different from how the cities around here decorate. Like a ceiling of stars. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of the season over there. Have a great holiday!

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  25. Beautifully illustrates "simple is best", doesn't it? Gorgeous photos!

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  26. I love how simple, yet beautiful the lights are there. So different from we just got home from seeing, whole neighborhoods trying to out compete each other with things like light up Hawaiian Santas.
    Merry Christmas!

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  27. Gorgeous lights and sights. I LOVE the strings of lights over the streets. Perfect.

    Joyous holidays,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  28. So lovely photos. Happy New Year!

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  29. Just signed onto your blog as I am researching an upcoming trip to the Dordogne this June.... Absolutely fantastic...
    My secret fantasy is to pack it all up here and move to France...
    Your site makes me just fantasize all the more at the possibilities.

    Can you suggest the most exquisite hotel in the Sarlat area with magnificent gardens to wander when I am finished exploring the region.

    Thanks
    Lynne

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  30. White lights always look pretty. There is a place in Savannah where you can eat outside among the white lights in the trees. Always so pretty.

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