Day 16 - 11th May. Carcassonne->Lourdes->Biarritz

Day 16 – 11 th May

A day of many firsts today!!
Woke at 6am to the alarm, an early day again today as much to see. We got into bed at 11.30pm last night by the time we had got everything done and I took a frusemide pill as my ankles have been cankles and really swollen! Consequently, I got up 6 times between midnight and 6am to pee!! But now I have such lovely ankles again!!!

For someone who is a very light sleeper at home, I have learned very quickly to get into a strange bed and go to sleep straight away!!! Its great.

We travelled to Lourdes today which took about 3 ½ hours. We all bought lunch at a truck stop on the way and took it to eat on the grass at Lourdes. We had an absolutely great sunny day again today and driving into the town was great- it is very quaint and so, so crowded with every nationality you could imagine there. I was also surprised that there were hundreds and hundreds of young soliders of every military discipline and uniform, apparently it is because of the pilmgrimage on at present. Even thoughh it was crowded, it just added to the special atmosphere you can feel even when you arent a catholic.

We ate lunch then filled our bottles with the healing waters and wandered through the 2 basilica’s. The lower one was amazing and filled with large frescoes depiciting all the religious stories. In the upper bascilica were all the stained glass windows depicting Christ and his life.

Then we wandered around until time to get back on the bus.
Funny (not so funny for Cathy one of our tour group) for the day, was when she suddenly called out that she had left her bag in a restaurant, this being just after we left in the warren of one way streets. She had all her jewellery and money in it, so Carine very reluctantly turned the bus around to go all the way back – 1 problem… when we got back to the top of the town on the way in there was a big march starting!! She wasn’t happy and ignored the policeman and told the driver to keep going. It was hilarious as we ended up with all the soldiers, pipers etc marching round us all the way down the narrow street!!!.

The TD jumped quickly off the bus and the Miracle of the day- the bag hadn’t been stolen!!! Amongst much hilarity and clapping, we were back on the road. No toilet stop now though as we were half an hour behind to get to the Pyrennes for our train ride. Have included a pic of a gypsy beggar on the street- thought it was very poignant, but they have a very bad name for thieving all over europe and at Lourdes, even from the sick and dying who are visiting - hoping for a miracle. But the lady in the photo was old and frail herself. I broke my rule and gave a very pregnant young woman some money yesterday, who was begging. She was a gypsy also- very pretty and so sad for her and the baby.

MM's fopar for the day- at Lourdes, she walks up all the many steps and yells loudly, in front of the public and Nuns "oh my GOD...........that was hot" we all shrunk into our boots as she blasphemed in one of the holiest places on earth !?!@!

Along the way out of Lourdes we went through the region where the Basque people live. They wanted a completely separate region, not French and not Spanish – hence where Basque Seperatists came from. They have lots of old money and are strong in the fight to not be called French even though they officially live in France.

On to an electric train and 35 minutes up the Pyrennes – very very steep with great views and wild horses. Up to the top and we were in Spain.
There is a line we all stood on where you can have 1 foot in France and 1 foot in Spain!! Hence the photo included today.

Gray had a beer and we wandered around in the perfect clear weather. We are very lucky as 1 woman on the tour said she has been before and couldnt see anything at all and it was freezing.

Since it rains a lot here, everything is very green like home, so we struck it on a great day for views and weather. Gray bought a traditional basque beret (where they come from in France) we had fun all wearing it in photos, then Gray found it had been made in China - What the??

Another 45 mins on the bus and into the city of Biarritz for the night. Another hotel meal at 8pm then straight to bed for Danni! She has been great though, especially as everyone- all adults are finding the pace too fast with basically 6 ½ -8 hours a day on the bus. Not sure why that is, as others who have done TT's (differnt ones) before, say the pace has always been much more comfortable and not so much travel. Maybe it is the distance we are trying to cover each day?? The bus is pretty disappointing too for a brand new, 1st class bus - the seats are hard and very little legroom unfotunately.

Just have to enjoy the moment I think and sleep later!

Dinner was great in the hotel with lots of laughs with Claire and Grace from Melbourne. Cya