July 18 - 20, 1961 - France

TUESDAY JULY 18, 1961 – NANTUA, FRANCE

We left Nantua & headed south. We passed through the Aragon Forest where I took a shot of a statue in honor of those that lost their lives here in the war. Hot war fought here. Lyon next large town then St. Etienne & Le Puy, where we stopped to change some money.  It’s been raining lightly off & on all day. Come nightfall we pulled into a small town called Chaudes-Aigues, a health resort where people come for treatments for arthritis etc. Hot mineral springs spout water 80 degrees F., several fountains in town where natives draw water in pails, etc. Good room & meals.

WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 1961 - CHAUDES-AIGUES, FRANCE

We left Chaudes-Aigues about 10 AM. The hotel & service was very good & reasonable, clean too. 4 course dinner & breakfast included (F2880). We headed south - Rodez, Albi, Toulouse.  It was a hilly, winding road. Lots of rain & cold. We will make Lourdes tonite & stay over?

Lourdes, France - Well we made it OK & got the last room in town I’m sure. We got dinner then decided to take a walk to the Grotto. This is walking distance from town, so away we went. When we got to the Grotto, thousands of people were streaming ¡n. all carrying candles which were lit. Over the Grotto was sort of a bridge, arch shape & the thousands walked up one side & down the other singing “Ave Maria”.  We joined in. Later, a short mass was said by a couple of cardinals etc. We talked to quite a few Scots from Glasgow here on a pilgrimage along with their pipes & 56 sick or invalids. We will see more of this today. Met many of all these at the public bars later. 

THURSDAY JULY 20, 1961 - LOURDES, FRANCE

Gas $1.04 / gallon - We went back this AM & took a few pictures. It was raining, but the crowds were getting larger by the minute. We got here just after the service for the crippled & sick but we did standby & see them wheeled out. There were no miracle cures and the disappointment on the faces of the sick was great. The Scot got into a mass at the Grotto. We listened for a bit then left. Got a bottle of holy water & 2 candles to take home. More info in booklet we bought.