So finally after 60 days we saw 2 pilgrims and today we saw 7 more. We wondered when it would happen and it happened here in Le Puy en Velay.

This morning we woke very early to go to the pilgrim’s mass at the cathedral. We were told that on Sunday it wouldn’t be until 10 am so we decided to go on Saturday, only to find out that pilgrim’s mass is only Monday through Friday.

But we met a couple of pilgrims who were waiting for the pilgrim office/gift shop to open at 8 so that they could get their credentials (a place to get your stamps along the way). We visited for a bit and gave them some info and then after 8:00 came and went we double checked the opening time…it wasn’t until 10.

Noël and I picked up our next set of our credentials already. So I said to Noël why don’t we ask if they want to walk to where we are staying and give them our credentials and we can come back at 10? So Noël asked them in French. They wanted to pay us but we said it was a gift. They were very grateful.

Where we stayed is on the way. So it worked out great. They took a selfie which I hope to share but they haven’t sent it yet.

Today we climbed up to the chapel of St. Michael. It was built in the 10th century, also on a volcanic rock. It was a very windy day and I’m a little bit afraid of heights. But it was well worth my fear.

Tomorrow we head out again. Rest has been great.

We started the day by heading out the door and walking to Decathlon. I’ve had to sew up both of Noël’s hiking pants so that they didn’t fall off of him. While walking the other day one of my sewing jobs popped. We were off the road so he changed them then and there. We found two pairs for him at decathlon. Whew!!

We have been learning a bit about Le Puy it’s a beautiful, fascinating and steep city! Here is a descriptions I found that is succinct and interesting-thanks google.

Le Puy-en-Velay is a town in southern France. It’s known for the green lentils grown in the area, and as a gateway to the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage trail. The 12th-century Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral has frescoes and a cloister. Perched on a volcanic rock, St-Michel d’Aiguilhe chapel dates from the 10th century. Nearby, an 1860 statue of the Virgin Mary looks over the town from another volcanic outcrop. ― Google

So this area had a lot of volcanoes. And they built churches and fortresses , placed statues on them. I said to Noël, “who comes up with this idea? And people agree? ‘Hey let’s build a chapel on top of that volcano!!’ And everyone says. ‘Sure cool, that sounds like fun hauling rock up a volcanic rock!’”

Today we visited the Statue of Norte Dame. It is made from seized Russian canons during the Crimean War. It is very impressive. Noël went all the way up to the top of the statue. The views from the top were spectacular. Tomorrow we will go to a pilgrim’s blessing at 7:30 in the morning. And we will visit Saint Michael’s chapel (also on a volcanic rock).

Hope you are having a good day.

Here is inside Notre Dame Cathedral Le Puy:

I want to start by thanking all of you who reached out and said kind and encouraging words to us. It was really heartening. Thank you!!

All of our arrangements went super smoothly today. We had a very nice and punctual taxi driver. We got to see the Eglise Saint Louis in Roanne. It was very pretty. We discovered that it is Neo-Romanesque. It was built from 1699-1730.

Our Uber driver was there early at the church so we got on our way early to Polignac. It was our first time in an electric four door Porsche. A very smooth ride.

We were dropped off in Polignac. Where we had planned to stay but decided last night to go ahead and walk into Le Puy. I’m glad we did. So much to see. But before we left Polignac we had a really nice lunch and got to see the church.

The bad thing is we took a wrong turn out of Polignac which added 2 kms to our journey. As we came into Le Puy just crossing the river we were hijacked by a very nice couple who had a 15 minute conversation standing on the sidewalk then took us on a tour of Le Puy while directing us to the office of tourism. It was very nice of them but added another km to the trip and we were wearing our backpacks. But all is well that ends well.

We found our lodging for the night. And then went to the Cathedral and got another set of credentials and got our stamp. Errands have been done and we are staying in for dinner. We have two more days to explore Le Puy. Oh! Le Puy is a city of steps. So many.

Hope you are well. And thank you again!!!

We have made a few decisions in the past week. Between the difficulty of finding accommodation, the lack of cafes and groceries in smaller towns where we stay, having to carry several days of food and the need to be back to see family at the end of May…we are skipping 150 kms to go to the village just before Le Puy en Valei. We want to walk into Le Puy.

While working on a project about pilgrimage a fiend and I decided to write our own definition. None of the ones we found fit for us. Our definition: “A journey of thoughtful intention with an unknown outcome.” For me this fits our pilgrimage so well.

While we have enjoyed the journey thus far, and learned a lot especially about ourselves. We want to experience the Chemin/Camino from Le Puy to Saint Jean Pied de Port and from there to Santiago de Compostela. This is very important to us!

Some may think we have copped out or are cheating but we don’t feel that way at all. Each to their own opinion. We hope some day to come back and finish the last 150 kms. But only time will tell…we have a thoughtful intention but we know that things happen to change plans.

Regardless we are grateful every day to have this experience and that you have chosen to come along with us. Also a big thank you to the contributions to our gofundme for cancer research.

May you begin this day with a thoughtful intention and see where the day takes you on your pilgrimage today and tomorrow.