One day late we have started walking, our day started at just after six as we wanted to attend the pilgrims mass at the Cathedral before starting out. I got a good nights sleep but for some reason Lesley did not and it wasn't because our room mates had snored because they didn't! Throughout the mass more and more pilgrims slipped into the cathederal and then as it finished we assembled in front of the statue of St James and recieved the pilgrims blessing, we were then given a pilgrims medal each and had to say our names and where we came from and where we were walking to (which taxed my French to it's limit), it appeared that we were the only English speaking pilgrims on the route, there were many nations represented but all from French speaking nations , Quebeck, Belgium, Switzerland and France. We then went to the sacristy and received our first pilgrims stamp in our credential.
Our trip had now begun in earnest. Down the 200 or so steps from the Cathederal into the town (a quick detour to the boulongerie for our lunch) and then a steep climb out of town.
Our route took us through fields and passing small villages and hamlets, for most of it we were walking on tarmac roads which are not the best surface for the feet. We aimed to pace ourselves And have a stop every hour. As we walked we passes and repassed other pilgrims always greeted with a cheery bonjour and a quick fire blast of French which went streight over our heads.
At 12:30 on the dot the road cleared as the other pilgrims stoped for their dejeuner, a quiet spot was found and the picnics came out. Still being on BST rather than French time we were not ready for lunch so ploughed on streight up hill for another hour. When we stoped the temprature droped and shortly afterward the heavens opened.
We continued on through a small forest and then through a small hamlet where we saw a group of "pilgrims" being given refreshments from their mobile support in a car. We then started downhill on a very steep path into the village of St Privat d'Allier, half way down we were overtaken by a couple of lads we had nicknamed the turbo boys, as previously in the day they had overtaken us at high speed during a rougher section. At last we arived in St Privat at 3pm only to find that the Getes don't open untill 4, the local hotel beconed and we opted for a double room half board at a very reasonable price.
After a shower an a change of clothes, and a laundry session we explored the village, visiting a beautiful church. Where we said evening prayer. We then looked at a photograhic display in the grounds of the church before hunting for a house of the man who held the church's stamp for our credentials. We then headed back to our hotel for a couple of beers as we wrote our blogs in the hope that we would soon find Internet access.
This was followed by a fantastic four course meal and then as Samuel pepys said and so to bed.
On the Camino in France
No comments:
Post a Comment