Exhausted. But happy. It was an amazing day. First we went to Rennes-le-Chateau but the church didn't open until 10am. So we went to find food for lunch back in the prior village, Couiza. There was a patisserie there and we went in and bought food. Katy speaks French, and so she helped us order.
Then we went on an adventure to get gas. We stopped at three places and none of the machines would take my card. Either card. Even the American Express which has a chip in it. Finally we found a manned gas station in Limoux (having driven all the way back from Couiza) that did not have a card reader at the pump and that took cash, by a real person. Katy was a lifesaver. She asked them if they took cash and they did. We got diesel in the car finally, it cost almost €18. Not bad for all the running around we had done.
By this time we headed back to Rennes-le-Chateau, and the parking area that had been deserted when we first arrived was nearly full. I expected the church to be crowded but it wasn't. There was also a museum and the Tour Magdala that cost money to get into. We didn't care to see them, just the church. It was pretty and really weird. V. asked, "Why is Joseph holding a baby?" I can see why people think it's odd.
We only spent a little time there before heading to Peyrepertuse. Jan, the lady who runs the hostel, had told us to stop at the Galamus Gorge. I really wanted to see the castles, and since we got off a bit late because of the “gazole” fiasco.
Peyrepertuse was absolutely amazing. A lot of the walls are still left, and some rooms too. I really need to go and look up historical information on it. It was a long climb to the top, not as long or steep as Montségur, but I was already tired from the climb yesterday.
Quèribus was good too, but smaller than Peyrepertuse. There was a really cool ceiling in it. The climb up to Quèribus was much easier than the other two.
Then we went to see the Gorges, and they were really cool. We were very glad that Jan told us to go there. (That's Jan at the hostel, not Jan my mother-in-law).
There was an abbey, cut into the cliff, dedicated to San Antonio. (Saint Anthony/Antoine). I bought a post card for Jan (mother-in-law) since she's interested in places dedicated to him, and she's not even religious, so that's kinda funny.
The dorm really is like a dungeon, and quite damp. We had to hang our towels outside on the line because they weren't drying in the dorm. I really like the hostel otherwise, the common room is nice, the location is great, but the dorm is damp and cold.
Jan (of the hostel) said that she knows some people in the village that have an apartment they rent out, so if Andy and I ever come here, we should contact her about that. He hates sharing a bathroom and Sidsmum's doesn't have any accommodation with a private bath.
Now I go to take a shower and hit the hay. We leave for Paris tomorrow a little after noon.
The above picture reads:"On this bare rock that pierces the Sabine
Where the eagle in his flight only dared to come
Dangling from a cord with a pickaxe
Man, like the birds, has found a way."
I sure hope I find a way back there, because it is a very beautiful place and I think I left a piece of my heart there...
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