Pre Camino

Paris to Lourdes
7 April

This morning we left our hotel and walked a block to Gare Montparnasse, getting there a good hour or more before our train, the TVG to Lourdes, was due to leave as we needed to suss out which level of the station and which platform our train would leave from; we sorted it out easily enough. The train got up to 314 kph but the speed was reduced from Bordeaux to Lourdes. Many of the buildings in central Lourdes appear old and rather run down. We went for a walk to the Sanctuary to find all the basilicas and chapels and Mass times. We went to the candlelight procession which started at the grotto at 9pm then to an outdoor Mass in English, also at the grotto, at 11pm. The day has been sunny and bright but the air is quite chilled as there is snow on the surrounding hills, by the night Mass it was freezing.

Gare Montparnasse - a multi level station

The TVG trains ready to depart

Some shots from the train...

A photo especially for you Harriet, Madeleine, Elissa, Zoe and Tessa - I saw several 'Pappy houses' along the way but couldn't get a photo as the train was going so fast. I did manage this one. What do you think - is it suitable for your much loved Pappy? With no walls he would have plenty of fresh air.

A Nana house maybe.

What about a Pappy hotel? Here's Pappy standing outside a dirty, dusty, derelict hotel. Do you girls think it's suitable for Pappy? It's opposite Gare Lourdes - the Lourdes railway station.

Walking to our accommodation in Lourdes

A view from our room in Lourdes

And another...

...looking in another direction

Another view from our room - the more distant hills are more heavily snow covered. 

At the Grotto in Lourdes

The Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Basilica of the Rosary which is below the basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes - part of the same huge building which has many chapels.

Taken when we went to the Candlelight procession.

The basilica at night.

The outdoor Mass was held outside the Grotto which is below this statue of Mary.