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Thanks for the guffaw, although I guess that the sock is needed!Day 53: transfer Toulouse - Figeac + c.3km around Figeac
Apart from the pants and the socks, other wet stuff mostly dried during the night, even shoes. Yesterday's rain left me a souvenir, however, a blister on my right heel.
I took the first train to Figeac (late, because it was a feast day). It took me back along the route I have walked which I quite liked and managed even to briefly recognize some places.
I deposited my backpack at the gite d'etape (by prior arrangement) and spent the whole afternoon doing one of my favourite pastimes, wandering around a medieval town searching for mostly ignored reliefs, peeking into courtyards and visiting boulangeries.
I had a very colourful, loud, vivacious (and good) dinner in gite d'etape le Chemin des Anges. Apart from a German lady, a Belgian lady an me everyone was from Paris or its roundabouts. I heard many stories and adventures from the le Puy route. Half-pension €43, washing and drying machine €4+4, wifi, garden. And a dog who just stole one of my socks.
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The sock was recovered quickly and deposited safely out of his reach.Thanks for the guffaw, although I guess that the sock is needed!
Yeah, I am excited and dread it a little at the same time.Bonjour @caminka!
Rocamadour is a marvel. I can't wait to read about your arrival. I expect, being summer the sanctuary will be thronging with pilgrims and tourists and the police....
I visited an etno museo in Grandas de Salime, Asturias, in May or June and it sounds very similar to the one you visited! I have tons of photos, but will post only this one. The stumps were to help move along in mud and snow, if I understood correctly. The people wore a kind of thick sock or even inner shoe...Fay 54: Figeac - Cardaillac c.12km
After a good sleep I made a slow morning because I knew I had a short day ahead. I had breakfast which did slow me down a bit and left only at 8h30. Like, really late (bit not the last!).
I went through the old town (GR bypasses it) then the route ascended a quiet shady road up a narrow valley, populated by dog-lovers and joggers. It transformed into a track then a path up to a ridge at le Bastit, then a sandy lane up to a viewpoint. A path then descended across two streams to a football stadium and became a steep street down past the church and cemetery (water) to Cardaillac.
I stopped at the bakery (no pains aux raisins anymore so I had to make do with a chocolatiere) and the shop for some fruit, then went to the medieval garden for a rest. I enjoyed the bubbling stream with vivid blue dragonflies (or damselflies) and the peacefullness for a while before I headed to gite d'etape to deposit my backpack.
Cardaillac is one of plus beaux villages de france and I took full advantage of the afternoon for exploring its medieval streets and mansions, and climbed one of the three towers for a panorama.
At 15h I was in front of the local ethnologic museum run by an elderly lady enthusiast who really knows every piece in her vast collection. It was impressive. The guided tour lasted two hours and a half. We visited several medieval buildings with collections of agricultural equipment, cobblers, various wood craftsmen, yarn and cloth making objects, wine cellar, mill and press for nuts, chestnut and plum drying facilities, living and sleeping quarters, and an old school. Very recommended but you need to understand french a fair deal.
The third reason I decided for a short day was gite d'etape la Citadelle which is in a stone building that started as a 12C lord's mansion. I splurged on my own room with a small terrace overlooking two of the three medieval towers. €27.80 (shared room is €20.80), optional breakfast €5, dinner €15 + drinks, linen, duvets, washing machine, wifi.
I shared dinner with a french couple and a french gentlemen who are all doing some sort of Rocamadour-cum-Cele variant.
I am writing this on my small terrace while the dusk is setting in. Just perfect.
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Seems like some form of clogs was in use everywhere. Hardly surprising, given their material and durability.I visited an etno museo in Grandas de Salime, Asturias, in May or June and it sounds very similar to the one you visited! I have tons of photos, but will post only this one. The stumps were to help move along in mud and snow, if I understood correctly. The people wore a kind of thick sock or even inner shoe...
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They are "sabots"...Seems like some form of clogs was in use everywhere. Hardly surprising, given their material and durability.
Yes,it's a wonderful museum, highly recommended.I visited an etno museo in Grandas de Salime, Asturias, in May or June and it sounds very similar to the one you visited! I have tons of photos, but will post only this one. The stumps were to help move along in mud and snow, if I understood correctly. The people wore a kind of thick sock or even inner shoe...
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As in the nursery rhyme "en passant par la Lorraine avec mes sabots"Seems like some form of clogs was in use everywhere.
Yes, this is my last day walking. Let's hope the weather will hold!Yes,it's a wonderful museum, highly recommended.
A day or two prior on the Primitivo I saw an old man wearing Sabots in the cowshed.
@caminka, I'm assuming this is your last day on the trail today. Thanks so much for taking us with you, all of the wonderfully descriptive posts, and the beautiful photos.
Looking forward to your last post.
Of course should you have decided to walk on elsewhere, I would be very happy to be proved wrong!
When I first saw this pair of sabots outside a front door on the Norte as I walked by, I was very surprised they are still being used; not just seen in museums. I later saw an old man tromping in a pair, heading out to his garden.I visited an etno museo in Grandas de Salime, Asturias, in May or June and it sounds very similar to the one you visited! I have tons of photos, but will post only this one. The stumps were to help move along in mud and snow, if I understood correctly. The people wore a kind of thick sock or even inner shoe...
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I remember having wooden clogs when I was little. They were quite comfortable.When I first saw this pair of sabots outside a front door on the Norte as I walked by, I was very surprised they are still being used; not just seen in museums. I later saw an old man tromping in a pair, heading out to his garden.
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That is very kind of you. I just take photos of what I find beautiful or interesting, and hope they will turn up good.Your photos are just amazing as always.
You really have a very good eye
Thank you! I like interesting and different things. Sometimes I am to tired to take a photo then later brat myself over not taking itI agree, Peter!
@caminka you do have a very good eye and your photos are quite varied and very interesting to look at.
I have been to Rocamadour when I walked the Le Puy Camino, but I went as a side trip by train from Figeac and back in one longish day. It worked out very well, for anyone planning or contemplating the Via Podiensis.
Much appreciated, thank you!It’s hard to keep up with you, @caminka!As you may have seen, I stuck in a link to your posts on the Via Occitana up top in your first post on this thread.
I am sure these threads have produced a LOT of envidia sana - we all are delighted you are having such a marvelous camino, but would just love to be doing it ourselves! Thanks so much for all the details and the pictures. They always produce a “wow” response.
It is always a bit of a shock for me when I have to change gears from the simple camino life and start thinking in real life terms. That's why I like taking a train home, it gives me time to adjust. (But can in itself be a different challenge, like this year.)Not only was it fun following your wonderful journey, but now you've given us great directions to get back to civilization. Thanks for taking us with you.
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