Dear fellow pilgrim, I am sitting here in my little hotel in Lauzerte, which has seen better days…the double cabins are tired, the contents minimal. It is run by one very obliging man who speaks excellent English and I am the sole guest, for whom he is cooking my meal while I bask in the mild evening sun. It's the 23rd September my sole surviving sister's birthday and I have completed over half the journey to St. Jean Pied de Port. So, I thought at this po...

Hello again, There are two French ladies, sitting in front of me about to eat. They just told me they were at the Church way back { St Pierre) when I forgot my hat and had to return, (discovering at the same time that I had gone in the wrong direction by about 2 Ks.) I have become attached to this hat, obsessively so! Therefore I apologise to the Lord for not taking it off when I visit a church. One sad aspect of the walk so far is there have been no Masses, ...

September 20th, 2017 Video Blog Entry - coming to you from "Bach and Beyond"! https://www.offexploring.com/jimwilaifoundation/videos/43586

Staying in a B&B only, so I have just returned from dinner at a small restaurant here in Limogne. Joined a couple from Seattle, it is only the 3rd time to have a meal whilst speaking English! It's their second Camino, the first four years ago and about the same time as mine? The photos taken on Monday the 18th say it all- rained most of the day, persistent and soaking-oil-skin over trousers and jacket until early arvo, then took off jacket, 15 mins later i...

I arrived in D at about 1.30pm, well before the hotel opened for business at 4.00 pm. So, what does one do in a deserted town on a Saturday? Out in the countryside Saturday's and Sunday's, even sometimes Mondays are holidays! Most shops shut- a few like bread shops and cafe bars, which do not sell food are open. The name of the Hotel was Malpel, I have no idea what it means, but I can think of a few choice ones with letters MAL included. I did check to see if...