I left this morning in a big hurry. There was a severe thunderstorm warning. One site said the thunderstorms would start at noon, Breakfast wasn't until 8:30, so at about 8:45, I lit out like my hair was on fire. I made four miles in the first hour. Huffing and puffing and hell-bent for leather.
The first half-mile was on the highway out of town.
This road looked like I was headed directly over the mountain. Thank goodness I didn't have to go all the way over that mountain.
The wind was practically howling from the minute I stepped out the door.
You can see how hard the wind was blowing because the wheat (?) was practically lying sideways. I kept thinking of Little House on the Prairie. I loved that show and read all the books as a kid.
I think this was a dairy farm. I thought the cow was so cute.
I passed through the village of Sorèze. According to Tarn, the town is famous for a "Benedictine abbey, founded in 754 at the foot of the Montagne Noire, which owes its fame to the innovative teaching methods it introduced from the 17th century until its closure in 1991. Its fame was such that it was made a Royal Military School under Louis XVI and welcomed students from all over the world." These are the Castres gates which were part of the original fortification of Sorèze.
I am always happy to see any statue honoring the pilgrims.
The Saint Martin Bell town has been classified as a historical monument since 1856.
This is all that is left of the 16th-century parish church that was destroyed in the religious wars.
The village was loaded with ancient structures. This was across from the destroyed parish church.
The weather had cleared just a little, so I raced into a grocery store and bought this surprisingly tasty sandwich, a bag of potato chips, and a diet coke. I quickly picnicked on the way, but I put the diet coke in my pack to save for this afternoon. The sky started to look ominous again, so I only ate half my sandwich and raced off again.
This is the cultural building in Revel. Truthfully, I just liked the colors and the zig-zag roof of the attached building.
From two blocks away, I could hear the noise of the village market. This was the first time merchants shouted, hawking their wares, with each trying to outshout the other ones.
I passed by this beautiful church, L'eglise-Notre-Dame-des Graces, and decided to go in. It was open, which has been rare in France. It was initially built in 1350. The website said, "The Wars of Religion destroyed this church several times in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was rebuilt several times, notably in the 19th century in a neo-Byzantine style with a splendid solid oak parquet floor."
I thought the mail altar with the frescos above was beautiful.
It had many gorgeous stained glass windows.
The minute I walked into this church, this manger scene caught my attention. It was brightly lit in an almost dark church.
I passed by this stately house on the way to my hotel. I hastened my pace because the wind suddenly howled and turned cold. I could smell the rain coming, and I knew that the sky was going to break any minute. Just as I stepped into the Hotel La Montagne Noire, it opened up. It didn't sprinkle or start slowly; the rain came in a deluge - buckets, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Whew - I just made it.
Tonight's dinner was supposed to be in La Cour des Grandes because my hotel restaurant was closed. I was little disappointed because my meal last night, also at an Ibis hotel was terrific. I went to the new hotel, and they were closed. OOPS! Who knows maybe they had a family emergency? Walk the Camino took good care of me, notifying the hotel manager who immediately came back to get me. She walked me to a different restaurant and told me to order whatever I wanted. Whoohoo! I am afraid I was quite the cheap date. I had one glass of white wine and a petite salad. I loved the goat cheese toasts.
And then, I ordered a croquet monsieur, which is a fancy name for a grilled ham and cheese. It hit the spot. See those fries. I ate every last one. They were piping hot, salted perfectly and no doubt the best fries I have had in a long time. I was miserably full after the fries, so I declined the offer of dessert.
So more thunderstorm warnings for tomorrow. Doesn't look as severe as today's warning but I would just as soon have my luck hold out. Prayers for me please. Good night and God Bless!
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