Change of plans

An historic nor’easter was running up the east coast burying it in feet of snow. Delta offered me the option to rebook on a later flight for free. A chance to stay longer? Yes, I’ll take that over getting stranded somewhere potentially. Flights were already full for Wednesday, so that moved me to Thursday. The Hotel Regina was able to accommodate us even though they were fully booked Tuesday night.

So I did not hurry out of bed, but Amy did have to get to class. After I got myself together, I went to the pharmacy to see if I could find a lip balm and hair clip because I had left both at Brigitte’s. :(. I was successful with the lip balm, but no luck with the clip. Since it was Monday not too many shops were open, but I walked around anyway and figured if I saw something, I would come back on Tuesday.

I started wandering uphill which brought me to the older part of the city and several landmarks. There are no shops open here this time of year, but since it is near the start of the Camino, I’m sure these shops open during their high season.

Although I’m not Catholic some of my friends are and they believe in Mary as an intercessor. As a mom, I can relate to that and I’m not strict about my spiritual beliefs. I decided to go back to visit the black virgin again and thank her for watching over us during our travels. We had a few near misses with fenderbenders in the car, and some tense moments between Amy and I, but it all worked out. I spent some time with her and lit a candle.

I also went back to the stone where supposedly she said the church should be built and lot a candle here as well. Lastly, I returned to two small side chapels with very ancient paintings and reliefs. In one, they still honor a priest who was killed in 1943 as a part of the French Reaistance. They remember their past here. If we in the US were better about remembering the past, not trying to rewind to a supposed golden era of the 1950s, would we be in a different place right now?

Amy and I met up at Momma’s Cafe for lunch. I had a salmon quiche again. They are so yummy. And a local light beer, which was tasty as well. Amy had to head back to class so I hung out at the cafe writing until she came back. Then it was operation dump.

Amy had two suitcases that she brought with her that needed to be retired. I brought two new ones with mine inside one of them. The plan to take one of Amy’s back went awry when its wheels gave out, hence then purchase of one in Nimes. But how does one throw away large items? Especially old red. I’d had that suitcase once I was in my 20s. She went to Europe and Hawaii many times, and India as well.

There are two dumps in Le Puy, so we selected one and followed directions up the hill. I said with France having a socialist system it could be very easy and free or with France’s love of bureaucracy, there could be paperwork and fees. I suspected the former, but Amy was very nervous about it.

We pulled in and tried to explain in French, but neither of us have vocabulary for the dump or dechetterrie. Fortunately, the man spoke English very well and he told us where to put it. No fees. No paperwork. And old red was decommissioned and we were giggling with relief, although I was sad she was having such an ignominious end, but how else does a suitcase get retired?

Our new motto is, If you can go to the dump

In France, you can do anything in France!

Since that took way less time than we thought, we returned to town and went back on the hunt for hair clips. We found success at a little shop that was open which sold all kinds of accessories. The promotion was 2 for 3 or 4 for 5, so we got five items.

We parted ways because Amy had stuff to do and I wanted to sit outside at the Cafe Palais, sip some Pastis, enjoy the sun, and watch the world go by. It is kind of a hub in the center of town and the people watching was great. Smoking is definitely still in vogue here.

Again on Monday night, not a lot of places were,

but Amy knew of an Indian place. We got to chatting with the owner. He was from Bangladesh and desperately want to go to the US, Mississippi, in particular. We warned him about the heat in summer but I guess he can handle that. When I told him I’d been to Chennai and Kerala, he got very excited. He said he doesn’t understand why the people in Kerala bobble their heads and asked if I saw that. I said yes and like him I didn’t know if it meant yes or now.

Amy has an early start in Tuesday, so I am making plans to walk part of the Chemin de Stevenson.