Thursday, April 21, 2011

Highlights - Aniane to St. Jean de la Blaquiere to Lodeve




Tea time at La Colombe Verte in Aniane. Annie - a poet, baker, cookbook writer, painter and gardener - brings it to our private apartment upstairs and then takes our clothes for an actual spin in a washing machine!


Our drying system becomes a work of art.

For breakfast Annie makes us homemade spice bread and French press coffee. Each homemade jam is labeled for what type of person would most enjoy it - an adventurer, a poet, a magician and lover.


We journey to St. Guilhem le Desert, known as the most picturesque village in all of France. We concur.





The village has many water spouts for pilgrims. I give one a go at a moss covered spout. And man is it delicious. Cold and crisp.


Apparently, the church frowns upon popsicles.









Making friends.


The view from our patio at Chez Charlotte in St. Jean de la Blaquiere. Workers harvesting grapes.


Today's walk to Lodeve begins. A short 10-miler.


Headstones of pilgrims who died on the trail from disease and dehydration. Really put a spring in our step!


Lodeve! We stop at a pizza stand at the bottom of the hill, and I eat a whole one to myself - crispy thin crust, red peppers, mushrooms, eggplant - washing it down with a cold beer. We see the pilgrim couple who shared our apartment the night before and give them each a slice. Mom holds her own in a French conversation with them. She's so proud. As am I! The pizza guy even compliments her.


Outside the painter's Mecca where we will spend the night. The couple are British. We make friends with their dogs Ella and Gigi.


The patio and sunshine calls... Where I write to you now.

Tomorrow 15 miles. They say rain. Oy.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:France

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos Tess; thanks for sharing.

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  2. Tess, I feel like I'm there with you and Kay. The photos are beautiful! Diane

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  3. So glad you enjoyed them! It's hard to capture the magic, but we do the best we can. :)

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  4. Looks like the church also frowns on men that wear underwear... hmmmm... :)

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