The Tour de France
After leaving Aix en Provence we rented a car and head out to A9 hwy off to St. Baume St. Maximen ( marche day)to hike and explore St. Magadeline grotto 500 metres in the Mountain. That was worth the journey, very sacred and silent place as we explored the Church inside a cave, wet, dark and very different, with her relics and many statues and pictures.
Then we drove to St. Marie's del Mar along the Mediterrrean Sea where they honor all the Mary's every year with a festival and throw flowers into the Sea. This is the place where Mary Magadeline came after the Ressurection.
Today we drove to Gruissan Plage and got stuck in the sand. It took 4 strong men to get us out. The sun was hot all day and what a journey. Dave drove and I navigated. The beach was worth the wait. Now we have a tan.
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In Aix
After Marie's 10 days in Le Puy and after Dave's Chemin de St. Jacques, we took the TGV train to Aix-en-Province. We booked into the beautiful Oblate Mission House on the Cours Mirabeau, right in the middle of everything. We were welcomed by Frere Benoit and had dinner with the 2 Oblate priests present and Benoit.
Well the next day was a market day. The Cours Mirabeau and all the surrounding squares were plene a craquer (packed) with food, clothes and flower vendors. Not to mention the smell of lavender and other delicatessen fragrances for which Provence is well known.
We toured the sites where St Eugene de Mazenod was born, grew up and founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate with which Dave is associated. Benoit gave us a private tour of the original mission house and surrounding town. We attended 2 masses in the original Oblate church that had been a Carmelite abbey products to the 1789 French Revolution.
We also did some souvenir shopping and sampled the local wines. We were treated to jazz music in the cloister as there were receptions each night for various groups. It was absolutely fantastic and drinking in the history of the Oblates was very moving for us.
We'll we left in a rental car for St Maximum de Baume to visit. Marie Magdalene”s grotto where she settled after the crucifixion and resurrection of our Saviour.
See the pics attached.
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Conked out in Conques
Well I made it Conques Saturday afternoon as hoped for. As my Chemin
de St Jacques ended it is with a lot of emotion.
200 kilometres of waking in 9 days with elevation changes totaling
over several kilometres, it was physically exhausting and
exhilarating. Meeting and making 30 new friends de toute sorte de
nationalite, was socially rewarding. Spending time walking alone was
an inner journey I feel stronger for having made.
Conques is a world heritage medieval city and was a nice place to say
our goodbyes. Visited the Abbaye Church of St Foy for Sunday mass.
What I understood of the homily was that it is one thing to walk in
nature and see God's creation but to be a Christian requires a leap of
Faith to a higher plane. And that sums up what I felt and experienced
in this pilgrimage.
Merci Dieu et au Seigneur pour votre amor.
Made it back to Le Puy using La Male Postale minibus service in time
for the celebration dinner Sunday night with Marie and the Little
Design Community retreat participants.
The journey is the destination. And it's not over.
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Day 9 Le Puy
The days are flying by and after tomorrow we leave the Centre.
Here is where I stayed for 10 days with 10 other ladies and one man.
It was a very informative and special time to grow spirituality and internally.
Dave will arrive tomorrow after 10 days of walking the Camino.
Le Puy is such an old city with great history, churches and statues. The people are so kind and helpful. The scenery is beautiful. The trip to Lyon was interesting.
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