May 29, 2006 : Rocamadour

Rocamadour is a historic shrine perched on a limestone cliff. It tells a story of religious belief and human endeavour.
Looking out over the gorge of the River Alzou, this city devoted to the Virgin Mary has remained for over nine hundred years a symbol of faith and hope.






We arrived Rocamadour after an hours drive from Brive (taxi cost around 75 euros) around late afternoon.

We immediately checked in at Hotel Grand Beau Site, a best western hotel which apparently is the best lodging in the whole place with excellent location.

Our room overlooks the Dordogne Valley.


















We were famished so off we headed looking for a place to take some very late lunch. I think that was around 4pm or so.

I immediately took my seat outside the balcony of this resto but bebeth found it too cold and besides it started to rain so we ordered our pizza inside.
I immediately took my seat at the balcony of this pizza resto which overlooks the lush greenery of the valley but bebeth found it too cold and besdies it started to rain so just decided to take our meal inside.

I had to take a photo of our meal because I found the cutter unique - it's a tiny hammer!


We saw the tourist train go by while we finished our pizza. I took note of this for I made sure we will not leave the city without trying this.


We finished the late lunch around close to 530pm and apparently the only lift which goes up the sanctuary grounds closes at 6pm. We made a dash for it so as not to waste time and make the most of the 3 euros fee to use the lift, otherwise it will be a more than 200 step climb and I don't intend to do that.
The lift or ascenseur was built inside a cave which was just right across our hotel.








Right after we went around the next level we came back exactly 6pm and looked around the shops which were all starting to close except one - wher they sell lovely jewelries and stuff.
The quality was really good so we bought a couple of them.
We found out later that the man who operated the lift, who hails from Sardinia, is the husband of the woman who sold us the trinkets! Truly a small city :)