Train from Montpellier to Madrid

(from my journal) 

I’ve just passed Narbonne and remember that I took this train towards Montpellier in 2012, right after a four-day bike ride from Toulouse.

We are stopping in Perpignan for two minutes. Last stop in France. From now on, everything will be new to me.

The past six days have been magical. Vero is a fabulous hostess, and we got on well together. The French has come easily to me this time. In fact, I am inspired to continue with French lessons. And I was romanced by both Mireille’s village and Cecile’s places. I can see renting a place near them for a month and just doing very little. Perhaps hiking, cooking, painting, and writing. Alex and I  would enjoy ourselves. April is especially beautiful and not too hot.

Unfortunately, I have had no time to write or draw. With no downtime, I can hardly reflect upon the trip. But it was a worthy sacrifice, and finally, today during this long train ride, I can write. 

I’ve got the best seat that looks towards the sea. I can see the Pyrenees as we approach and they rise sharply from the sea. Their peeks a still white with snow.

Luci and Bernard have a summer place in the Pyrenees. He takes a truck and trailer with him every summer, filled with equipment he can’t live without. As a potter and sculptor, he is equipment-needy.  They also bring their chickens wherever they go. At this point, they are more family than egg layers ……Lucie continues to work even though she has retired. Her work has really been a lifetime career. I am sure she is very valuable.  We have bonded on our love of plants, cooking, and shared history.

Now we are in a tunnel deep under the Pyrenees. I guess this means Spain is around the corner.

Cecile and her boyfriend Jacques built a house on Tito's property during Covid. Tito was still alive at the time. And it is the same place where both Guillaume and Cecile grew up. In 2020, they took apart 80% of the sheep barn and constructed and new domicile. It took only 6 months. (Which in French time is a miracle.) The rule of the village is that they had to keep the 300-year-old exterior walls to stay in keeping with the historic town. 

A surprise for me is that Jacques has worked for FileMaker Pro, now Claris software, for over 30 years. That software is an all-time favorite of mine.  I used this program with Bellevue school district! I am a computer geek at heart. 

So on one side of the property is Cecile’s new house, and on the other side is her childhood home called LePigeonnier. Her brother lives there. He has piles and piles of collections. Including collecting PEZ dispensers. It rivals my friend Roxane’s place.  Both Guillaume and Tito were real collectors.

We are now stopping at Figueres-Vilafant for two minutes.

Marie also joined us from the Cévennes. For her, it was a 90-minute drive. She is still working as a cook at the local school. She shops and cooks 4 days a week for both the faculty and students. Her budget is 4 euros each person. They eat a lot of bread, potatoes, cheese and pasta. Plus whatever else she can find. She says the kids eat every crumb! She looks  good for a woman in her 70’s and just as nice as ever.    

We are back in and out of several tunnels. It must be easier to blast a tunnel than rise up and down over the mountain pass. I am happy in a tunnel. I’m so glad I chose a train over a plane for this leg of the route. 

It is around noon now, and I bought a baguette sandwich with Brie cheese, ham, and pickles. So far, I have eaten everything and somehow not gained weight. I don’t even get hungry between meals. I’m even drinking coffee and wine. I’ve broken almost all my rules. I’m not smoking though, not yet! Mousse au chocolate, yes. But du fume, non

New stop, Girona. In a tunnel. Two minutes till noon and I hear everyone opening their sandwiches. It’s a cultural thing to eat by the clock.

I’m going to stop and eat. Hopefully, more writing to follow.