I had heard about the treasures of Moissac well before I arrived there, from quite a few French people who also loved Conques.
When I was cycling in the Loire in 2006, I kept 'stumbling' across images of St Martin sharing his cloak, and somehow I was powerfully attracted by its message. Here in Moissac I found St Martin again sharing his cloak on capitals in the cloister.
In the church there was so much to look at, and these medieval statues held my attention for a long time. The emotions experienced by those burying Christ seemed so very real when I looked at this medieval sculpture. Rom, at the Ultriea gite, told me about the singing of the nuns at Lauds and Vespers in the abbey. Such a small group of nuns, and their voices were transformed into something angelic. My rest day in Moissac was wonderful, staying at Ultreia with Rom and Aideen, and being 'aunty' a little while with their baby boy, was like being with family. Plus they had a foot spa which rejuvenated my feet! And I was able to spend some time just lazing on my bed with a book.... And it was surprising how many others I saw downtown, also taking a break for an extra day in Moissac.... even the mule I had last seen at Domaine des Mathieux in the rain.... I was in good company.
When I was preparing to walk the route from Le-Puy-en-Velay to SJPP, I found there wasn't much info in English, and I hope this blog might fill the gap a little.... In 2008 I walked from Le Puy to Santiago. In 2012 I walked from Cluny to Conques, then spent three weeks in Spain, re-walking two sections of the Camino Frances. Please feel free to contact me if you wish.
Hunkered In
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The sky keeps changing colors, the wind roars all night and morning.
Sometime overnight it pulled the chicken-hut door off its hinges and
smashed it to k...
Beachscape
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I haven't blogged for a while, but here is a new poem.
*Beachscape*
*Surprising that I never knew before*
*the bright curve of this bay,*
*the way the wash...
Taranaki-born, long-time Manawatu resident and primary teacher; inveterate traveler, Camino walker, occasional cyclist, lover of sea and bush walks; getting into genealogy more; collapsed catholic; lapsed musician looking forward to doing more again in retirement
from the poem "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver.....
" I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
This quote is taken from notion900 on the Pilgrimage to Santiago forum: "Please know that although some people seem to imagine it as some appalling ordeal, the camino is a very health-giving thing - if you do simple things like healthy food, plenty of water, moisturise your feet and get plenty of sleep. Being out in nature for 5 weeks is just so life-giving: I finished the camino absolutely glowing with health and vitality. I hope you have a wonderful time."
'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.' Goethe
"Glowing... this is the thing about pictures of people on the Camino. This light within... As if the Camino washed the soul and cleared the eyes." Claire Bangasser in a comment on Johnnie Walker's blog
When I was cycling in the Loire in 2006, I kept 'stumbling' across images of St Martin sharing his cloak, and somehow I was powerfully attracted by its message. Here in Moissac I found St Martin again sharing his cloak on capitals in the cloister. 
In the church there was so much to look at, 
and these medieval statues held my attention for a long time. The emotions experienced by those burying Christ seemed so very real when I looked at this medieval sculpture.
Rom, at the Ultriea gite, told me about the singing of the nuns at Lauds and Vespers in the abbey. Such a small group of nuns, and their voices were transformed into something angelic.
My rest day in Moissac was wonderful, staying at Ultreia with Rom and Aideen, and being 'aunty' a little while with their baby boy, was like being with family. Plus they had a foot spa which rejuvenated my feet! And I was able to spend some time just lazing on my bed with a book....
And it was surprising how many others I saw downtown, also taking a break for an extra day in Moissac.... even the mule I had last seen at Domaine des Mathieux in the rain.... I was in good company.
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