My Chemin de Compostelle--the Via Podiensis: Jour 5 : Arthez de Bearn

"For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3: 36 (ESV)

Arthez de Béarn

Last night there was no demi-pension proposed and no place to eat in town, so the two French couples and I, staying at the Gîte Perarnaud, had a communal dinner with what Mme. Perarnaud had available in her kitchen across the street. They are all dying to know what happened to the USA, and how a person like Mr. Trump could possibly be elected president. I have had to discuss this over and over with every French (and Swiss) person I have had any kind of interaction with on this pilgrimage. They all loved Obama, without exception, and cannot fathom how we, as Americans, could come to this.

Some of my previous companions were staying in Pomps, which was slightly farther than I was walking, but I ran into them all when I walked that way in the morning. The ladies from Rocamadour were returning home, having walked for nine days. We met at the little épicerie in Pomps, where they were having coffee, and I bought supplies for lunch.

the little library idea--take a book, leave a book

the hydrangeas were gorgeous--note the Béarnais brick work

and more brick work

The Swiss women, whom I also ran into again at the same place, were walking at a languished pace, and were following their husbands, planning to join them later at their gite. I saw them again at the Chapelle of Caubin, a former outpost of the Knights of the Order of Malta, where I had a picnic lunch.

Chapelle de Caubin just before Arthez de Béarn

And then I again crossed paths with my gîte-mates from last night as I sat savoring a rare few minutes of sun in Arthez de Béarn, sitting in front of the church on a bench with a panoramic view of the Pyrenées. It had been raining off and on lightly the whole morning. They recommended a little café nearby where they stopped for coffee and enjoyed a lovely gateau Basque. Which, of course, I couldn't resist...

Athez de Béarn took its name from the county of Artois (Artés in Occitan, which is adapted in French as Arthès or Arthez). The "de Béarn" distinguishes it from other cities by the same name.