Saint Bertrand de Comminges for the afternoon

Day 14

Sun 28.7.19

We sat around after a lazy b/f, and talking to Brian & Marianne. Spent the morning in their garden, reading and relaxing. Then after lunch we went off to Saint Bernad de Comminges, at the recommendation of Brian & Marianne.

It was a little drive away. There we found a fortified village up no a hill with an imposing cathedral dominating everything else. Something was going on, and people in medieval costume were walking around everywhere. Parking was free, but access to the town was for residents only anyway. So the walk to the top was a quite steep 700 metre hike. When we got to the walls of the town, they were charging to go in. Not my idea of liberte, egaligte, et fraternity.

Pay up and look big!

Nice town

After a little debate between us, and realising that the charge to get into the imposing basilica was 5 bucks anyway, and they only wanted 8 bucks to get in, we went for it. The programme of events was nearly over by now, but we still went for it.

We were not disappointed.

When we got to the main square, there were stalls selling nuts and soap and things. Outside the cathedral there were four characters playing medieval music. Not our thing, but at least they were good at what they did.

Medieval music

The inside of the cathedral was unusual in that it had distinct historical periods of its development. Old, very old, and even older, - or something like that. A couple of minutes inside was enough for us, and we went outside again, to be greeted now by jugglers acrobats, and more musicians.

These guys were good, - and they knew it!

The crowd now was a lot bigger, and these guys put on an amazing display of juggling and cartwheels and handstands and other stunts. I was hoping for a bit of fire-eating, but that didn’t transpire, sadly.

Juggling with 7 balls was impressive

Gymnastics from the other juggler, too.

The next item up in the programme was a medieval drama, about a big fat woman, a shoe, and an ogre.

Drama with a big bum!

We quit, and walked round the rest of the town, seeing demonstrations of archery, chain-mail repairs (quite handy if your ever in need a bit of body armour), and blacksmithing.

Chain mail and helmets

We left by 6.30 because we wanted to go for a meal at La Casera, and take a 3rd wedding anniversary meal. Ruth wanted a steak for her meal today, and had been on about it for ages. That was what we had. And we were not disappointed!

A great day.

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Tim & Ruth's holiday in France 2019

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