Tout Puissant
I am in Lourdes. There is a higher power than the Pope apparently. Thank you Benoit for resigning.
Today, the day after the resignation the snow and rain cleared and there is a beautiful sunny day in this Pyranees mountain valley town. Little kids are heard playing cheerfully in the playground of their schoolyard behind the tourist bureau.
The Mass in French at the main sanctuary displayed beautiful loud singing- Ave Ave Ave Maria. And even during this past weekend of snow and rain pilgrims flocked to Lourdes to wait in long lines for the baths or just to touch the walls of the Grotto by La rive Gave dripping with fresh mountain water. Some people wiped the walls with their hankerchiefs. Others poured the water from the faucets into whatever containers they had on them or bought on the way.
Everything seems brilliant and better here than the dinginess I left. There is even skiing in the next town- if you avoid the avalanches. Surprise after surprise has me thanking God I got to get here- even the McDonalds is better (and i confess i stepped in there:-) -they have pistachio milkshakes and cheeseburgers with either goat cheese or camembert. Twix come in white chocolate, and homemade knit scarves are only 5 euros. The librarie at the Shrine has a great CD collection of sacred music.
The train from Paris only changed once at 'Bayonne' -and so by train with connections it takes a half a day to get here- but its a beautiful train ride and less than 100 Euros. When I have a better internet connection I will post photos.
Now I am checking on the bus schedules to get to the nearest ski town.
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