[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 18

Travel Notes
August 28, 1984 - Day 28
SPAIN - FRANCE

Barcelona, Spain - Hotel Regina

Talk about your rude awakenings, everyone jolted out of half-conscious state by the news that the bus had been broken into! Some hooligans rendered the window of the left-hand emergency door a total loss, making off with Frank's two bottels of wine and the Silveiras' cardigans before vanishing into the night. Bart has very little reason indeed to love Barcelona in particular and Spain in general, now. The remaining glass had to be cleaned, and something improvised to cover the empty space where the window used to be, which process delayed our departure so that we left at eight instead of seven.

Barcelona, Spain - Lourdes, France - en route

The broken window raised eyebrows at Perpignan, and sighs of relief from me and Ma, for we've entered France for the last time. It looks like Earl can manage a good night's sleep in Lourdes, now that we've had a smooth border crossing, and after we get through the Pyrenees to Lourdes. The lunch stop was memorable for the little self-service that I think deserves three stars for its poitrine de veau. It's served with shell pasta in a golden sauce, precisely what one needs to recover equilibrium after traveling the zigzag roads. We apparently had a near miss when a sleepy driver shifted into our lane - just as we rounded a bend in the road! Bart whisked the bus into the opposite (and fortunately, clear!) lane and had us back in the proper lane before all the sleepy passengers and Earl even knew something was out of kilter...our eyes met in the mirror for a moment as he did a quick check to see if anyone had awakened, and I gave him an approving nod, as did Grandfather Basil.

Lourdes, France - Hotel Christina

We arrived safely in Lourdes in time for dinner, but I think we were underfed. ONE slice of meat on the plate? It felt like we were served not merely a pilgrim's dinner, but a penitent's one, more likely, as the slice wasn't all that big, either. Two other busloads had pulled in ahead of us, but still. . .a little more of the main course and less of the bread would have been nice.

Once dinner had finished, straight to the grotto for the candlelight procession and a drink of the holy water. To be in Lourdes, especially after the small miracle Our Lady worked for me. . .it makes me wonder what I ever did right to deserve it. A very humbling experience, especially when one sees the faith of so many people from so many places, and somehow you get the feeling that there is hope for the world yet!