I took a short walk to the cemetery this morning, hoping to take lots of photos to show you how beautiful it looks with the abundance of flowers. Unfortunately, the gate was closed and locked tight. I was able, however, to take a few shots between the wrought iron bars.
I guess this being Hallowe'en, they worry that some kids will get up to some mischief.
More significant than Hallowe'en for the French is November 1st - All Saints Day. It's a holiday and all the stores are closed. We made sure we bought our croissants early for tomorrow's breakfast! I understand that people will be on the roads, trying to get from one town to the other to visit the gravesides of their ancestors, bringing flowers and saying a few prayers. It's a wonderful way to remember their loved ones with a yearly good-bye.
We are saying good-bye as well. Our time in Ginestas and in the Languedoc region has come to an end. We will be leaving for Germany bright and early tomorrow morning and then flying from Frankfurt to Vancouver on the 4th. Although we've been away for almost 3 months, the time has flown by.
Everyone has a life story, and Karl and I feel this chapter was absolutely wonderful! We keep thinking that we know France well, but every region brings its own customs, its own food, its own history. We found wild countryside, steep precipices and deep caves. We walked with the Cathars, laughed with the Catalan people, questioned the political motives of the Church during the Inquisition. We tasted smelly fish, savoured green olives and timidly inhaled pungent truffles. We drove on narrow roads to reach ancient towns and climbed peaks to explore ruins. We witnessed Nature take on its autumn mantle, felt the sun's weakening rays penetrate the soil and watched the green drain away. We marvelled at the "vignerons" scrambling to get the grapes in within tight deadlines and then stood by to watch the alchemy change fruit to wine. We ate and drank and chatted with people and made new friends. Every day was a marvel.
The underlying truth of travel and its marvels can best be expressed by Marcel Proust:
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
France will always have much to offer. May we always have the eyes to appreciate its banquet.
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