Day: 12- 16 Km travelled: 893.43 km Steps: 33, 800
September 18th-22nd, 2017
As the dawn slowly faded into the midday sun, so did my time in champagne. All good things must come to an end. Except in my case this year, as one marvellous experience morphed into a faded memory deemed for the scrapbook, another was waiting around the corner. The clinking and chugging of the train, now a familiar rhythm in my day. Luckily, this beat was set at 300km/h.
My next destination filled me with excitement and anticipation; I had been planning this visit for many years. Not for the historical sites or bustling city life (although it with both, I was soon to discover), but for a more personal connection: I was going to visit my cousin in Roumens!
Growing up, having an expat cousin in France was as exotic and exciting as a 9 year old coud dream of (coincidently, that was around the last time I saw her and her husband in Canada!). Family always being close to my heart, I knew that if I made my way to France, a stop at their house would be on the itinerary. Luckily for me, they agreed to host me, even after my always-changing-last-minute-decision-making plans.
Their kindness extended even further and I was graciously picked up at the Toulouse train station by my cousin’s husband and had my personal tour guide for the 50min drive to Roumens. As we approached the town, the most spectacular scenery unfolded itself in the distance: fields of golden yellows and deep browns laid out on rolling hills, framed with in luscious green. I’ve seen my share of ‘farm country’ in Canada as well as abroad, however I had never seen anything quite like this before. And then, just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, my cousin tells me quite casually “On a clear day, you can see the Alps from here”.
The next few days were spent getting to know my no-longer-far-away family and discovery the many hidden gems of the villages nearby. One of those hidden gems, was La Halle, a 15th century timber marvel in the centre of the town of Revel.
A running joke was that everything in this region of France (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie) was older than Canada! At one point, we came across a door that was dated from the 18th century! Even the doors were older than my home and native land… only in Europe!
Breathtaking landscapes at every turn, culinary coup d’etat, in unassuming restaurants ( we lunched out on 2 occasions and both meals were michelin star worthy!). The pace of the life here (or the short glimpse I saw) was leisurely and peaceful yet still busy and engaging.
One of the highlights of the visit was a trip to the Musée du Canal du Midi. The Canal, unknown to me prior to arriving in this area, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Architected by Pierre-Paul Riquet and completed in 1681, it measures 240 km and roughly connects the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It is often deemed the most beautiful canal in the world and it justly lives up to the hype, with its stone-arched bridges and plane trees lining the way. One of the stand out bits of information for me (and there was a lot of information) was that aqueducts needed to be engineered in order to have the canal pass over rivers along the way. That’s right, there’s a bridge to channel the water over the river!
Post Neuf over the Canal du Midi
The rest of the time was filled with card games, laughter and late suppers (I still haven’t quite gotten used to the lateness of supper time in France; must be the “old lady” in me. I have gotten quite used to the cheese course following supper however. Oh, and the wine.). I also fully embraced the opportunity to sleep in (what can I say? I’m a sucker for a comfortable bed in a dark quiet room) and do laundry in an actual washing machine! (As I write this blog, I’m sitting in a ‘launderette’ in Glasgow – the first time I’ve been able to do a proper laundry since!).
My time in the countryside of southwestern France came to an end after a blissful week spent in the company of some of France’s most delightful citizens, who also happened to be related to me! I was very fortunate (and will be eternally grateful) for the time spent in Roumens amid such wonderfully caring and welcoming hosts! It felt like a vacation amid my vacation and brought a little bit of home to this foreign land.
On yet another bus, in the darkness of the early morning, I quietly watched the countryside roll by for the last time.
With my heart full, my soul at peace and my energy recharged, it was time to face the next adventure. Paris, here I come!
I could stare at this all day