I visited France for the first time in 2001. I had become interested in the Pilgrim Road from LePuy in the middle of France to
Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in Spain. At one time this pilgrim road was only beaten by the ones to Jerusalem and
Rome.
The pilgrim roads from other countries in Europe, connected with this one, and it became a Pilgrim High Road. And here
people still walk... and I wanted to be one of them.
I had used much time on planning and reading, but when I came to lePuy where it should start, I was exited and very
confused. I rented a room (bed) in the monastry, and found out where to walk. In the middle of my second night there, I go a
room mate. And we decided to start walking together.
And so started my first walk in France.. I met many different people, from someone who lost a bet in Germany, and had to
walk to Santiago, to an opera singer from Ottowa, who did not carry her backpack. A taxi drove it from place to place.
It was hard walk sometimes, and it was rain and even sleet in the mountains. But in the evenings all the pilgrims ate together
and many times slept in the same place. We became frinds for some days or miles.
After 2 weeks I decided to stay some days in Cahors and then try to get to St.Malo in Bretagne. That was a wise decision,
and I spent some days there in the old pirate town. And then I traveled through north France, Belgium and the Netherlands..
I saw much and could write a book. Maybe I will.
Some time after my walk in France, all us siblings decided to walk together for a month. We used many
months to plan, and we were very exited when we started the walk in May. The Trip through Denmark was
cold, because we had to wait for the train in a cold station. But then we traveled via Hamburg, Køln,
Switzerland to Paris. We arrived one clear morning, and we walked through Paris.
And so there was only one train trip left. The one from Paris to Figeac.
