6-5-09 fri

so yesterday was a driving day...we thought that going to mezemet, castres and castelendury would be a good days adventure. up into the montaigne noir!

we got sidetracked by the grotte limousis. it is a limestone cavern with stalagtites, stalagmites, etc. i took alot of pics there but still can't upload easily. the cave was cool and beautiful. the climax of the tour was a light and sound show in a room with crystal formations.

on the way to mezemet regina read of a town called hautpoul. very authentic and on the way. we drove up a lane that is almost a broken single line on american maps. at the end is a parking lot and a madonna on the high point of the outcropping. there was a small road down to the village. the guide said those with a car can drive there so down we went. i missed the no entry sign and regina said LATER that she thot i knew what i was doing!

the first hairpin turn was a 3 point turn for me and i had the car leaning against the house wall. the next obsitacle was an archway. there already was a car parked by it. i pulled the mirror in and lined up. better judgemet arrived and another 3 point turn got us out.

the madonna of hautpoul has a commanding view of the mountains and valleys below. we parked in the lot this time and hiked up. the village and ruins were lofty and looked inaccessable. there were lots of thank yous to the madonna. i had visions of girls trying to get pregnant and consumating their desires atop the rocky hill top. don't know why that vision but i teach jr hi...what can i say!

back at the house we were planning on having glacee with the neighbor across the alley. it never worked out and we were left pondering if we had understood her, or the time, day or intentions. kind of like expecting to meet someone at the designated time and place but being there wondering where the communication breakdown occurred!

we are like the pied pipers in the neighborhood. kids up and down the alley come to visit. i think there are 6 regulars and we added 3 more yesterday. last night we added 2 parents to the group. the language barrier only adds to the comedy. everyone speaks a little of a common language. french, english or spanish.

today is the last full day in carcassonne. we went to ville basse in the city and walked around. we wanted a vegeterian pizza for lunch. it came with cheese, olives and tuna. not quite what we had in mind. at least no anchovies!

tomorrow we leave early for rocamodor and limoges. we don4t know if we will find an internet for a while so think kindly of us while we travel north. bonne jour!