Lourdes

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I went to Lourdes because I wanted to visit the caves and to a day tour to the Pyrenees as mentioned online. However, when I arrived these (and nearly all other attractions) had closed 4 days before I arrived. Apparently 'through November' doesn't actually INCLUDE November. But that's okay because it was interesting eing in a tourist town when there are no tourists. Usually people flock here on a pilgrimage to see the Grotto where Saint Bernadette supposedly saw 'the immaculate conception' appear to her eight times. (I find it astounding that a whole towns prosperity and trade is still based on a story told by one little girl centuries ago). After the 31st of October this place has no spirit to it. Its incredibly quiet, even during the day until about 1pm.

I did get to visit the Lourdes Castle and Pyrenean museum which I thoroughly enjoyed. There's something brilliantly moody about a castle in the rain. It made me think of places I've visited in England in the winter. Not only did they display costumes and toold and furniture from various time periods throughout th castles history, they also had some fanastic scale models of real buildings and villages and castles in france. Complete with bonsaii trees handing over them! So I enjoyed that very much. I could have taken a cable car up one of the mountains for a view of the Pyrenees but it was so wet and grey I didn't think it would be worth the money. Very poor visibility. However the view of the snow capped Pyrenees from the window of the train as I left the next morning was breathtaking. Very glad I got to see that.

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