Invitation To France, Vignettes-7

Chapter 13 The Atlantic Coast

Bourges … St. Etienne (St. Steven) Cathedral, a cathedral that was built in the 1100s. Of the 200 cathedrals and large religious buildings we have visited in Europe, after our visit, this one ranks in Jim’s top ten.

Montbron … When the lady held up her open hand to indicate 50, Jim reached over and carefully folded her thumb to her palm. She smiled and agreed to 40 Francs.

St. Emilion … The church, 65 feet wide and 33 feet high was hollowed out of a single limestone rock. It took about 300 years to carve the 125 feet long nave and two aisles.

Chapter 14 Southwest France

Lourdes … Hundreds of wheelchairs and stretcher-carts are parked in sheds next to the hospital near the basilica. They are used by the unbelievable number of sick and disabled, who come to Lourdes for healing.

Tournay … After they counted and determined there were just enough ribbons for all the exhibits, they laughingly told us the only way we could get a blue-ribbon was to bring our own prize-winning animal to next year’s fair.

Carcassonne … crowds of tourists are about to overwhelm the very thing they come to see. It will soon be said that Carcassonne is so crowded, no one goes there any more.

Béziers … The arched stone bridge with flowers in the foreground, buildings at the riverside, the cathedral high on the hill, all combine to make another of those postcard pictures.