Advertisement
Published: August 6th 2007
Arles to Le Puy en Velay
Kate Smith & Betty Mckew
Sax group - Le Puy en Velay Well I'm sitting very patiently here in our apartment in Paris, awaiting Betty's return. She has put on her joggers and set out into to the streets of Paris to buy our breakfast - fresh baguette, croissants and some coffee grounds so we can brew our own. I will give her 20 minutes until I make my way down the 4 storey spiralling staircase and wait for her at the front door of the apartment block .... you see there is a code to get in. I will also try to write about our visit to Le Puy en Velay to take my mind off her absence!
Le Puy en Velay is situated in the Massif region. A mountainous landscape famous for its 'Puy's' - volcanic plugs or 'Dykes', three of which are the focal point in the town of Le Puy en Velay. Each Dyke has atop a religious structure, be it a Chapel, Cathedral or monument to the great 'Vierge' (Virgin Mary). The most impressive being Chapelle St Michel d'Aiguilhe, pearched atop its outrageously steep rocky pedistal, 85 metres high! (A picture provided). Built in the 10th Century. We had an impressive view of the chapel from
the feet of the 16 metre high red Vierge on Rocher Corneille .... constructed in 1860 from melted down cannons captred in the crimean war. She is a bizarre structure - Betty will fill you in on her details.
Our hotel there was called 'Hotel Regina' and was centrally located. Unfortunately the owner has a strange facination for all tones RED, with a bit of yellow thrown in for relief! Actually this decor was only to be found in the dining area .... the room was a lovely light blue and whites. Heavy damask curtains and table cloths, carpet, walls doors all some tone of red or burgundy, the tall chairs covered in yellow damask. Gosh it was a serious room. We ate a very very nice meal there and as usual Betty took on the fromage course with full gusto. I have to say, I have never seen one person eat so much cheese. She does love it and can't help but utter little sounds of joy as she slowly devours each new flavour. I don't share her desire for cheese!
We arrived around 2pm and quickly set out into the streets. On the way to the
Cathedral we stumbled on a 'Brocante' which is the French term for Second Hand or Antiques. It was a facinating and tightly packed little store owned by a real character, an older gentleman who took a shine to Betty and her rouge locks. He had a complete human skeleton on display ..... and for about 5 minutes Betty seriously contemplated the logistics of packing it up and getting it through customs, I had to hide my amusement until she woke up to the fact that it would quite impossible. (wait until we tell you about what we found at the markets in Paris)
I ended up walking away with a nice little image of the 16m virgin framed in a ornate tin frame and some curios for family.
The pictures here include a distant shot of another ancient structure mounted on yet another dyke. The Fortresse de Polignac, which has a tower that stands at the very edge of a cliff .... its quite a foreboding sight, even from where we first saw it, about 10kms away. This shot was on our way out of Le Puy en Velay.
Kate
PS Betty made it home ok
with our breakfast!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.13s; Tpl: 0.016s; cc: 9; qc: 47; dbt: 0.0527s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
LAS & JAK
non-member comment
Phew!
You really had us worried for a moment that Betty had absconded with your breakky! Love the videos. Please buy me that "les marsupiaux" book with the doggy bookends!!