Saturday, August 9, 2014

Real love is a pilgrimage. It happens when there is no strategy, but it is very rare because most people are strategists.






In the supermarket there's a group of shaven headed Poles. Agricultural workers here for the melon harvest. I tell them that the French for piwo is biere. They look gruff but when they come back out to the car park loaded with bottles of Kronenbourg they see the PON's and laugh like children. Sophie soaks up the attention. Bob is less sure.

The cafe under the arcades is still closed. We stop off at at the McDonald's on our way home. The PON duo wait patiently while I go in to order a coffee.  A new special - goats cheese wraps. Don't think they would be a hit in Topeka. The young man behind the counter brings out a bowl of water . He puts it down and chats to the dogs without a hint of embarrassment. 

On the way back into the village a line of pilgrims. We've seen more this year than the previous four years put together. This article from Der Spiegel ( in English ) offers an explanation. The second page is the more interesting.


11 comments:

Kinley Westie said...

Somehow I don't think we'll be seeing da goat cheese wraps here in Texas.

Angus said...

Not even in Waco ?

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

How wonderful for the melon workers, so far from home to be welcomed by PONs.

Goat cheese wraps....might be a reason to go to McDonalds.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I don't think we'll be seeing goats cheese wraps in my corner of rural Virginia, maybe they'd be a hit at the McCafe in Georgetown....



Sheila said...

What a fascinating article. Sounds as though
Bob and Sophie will be on watch for pilgrims
for years to come. All the more to bark at.

Anonymous said...

Very gourmet, the fried goat-cheese wraps. Fabulous article about the Camino. I hope someone follows up the love story between the beautiful Hungarian and the handsome priest-to-be. Looks like it's nearing harvest time for les tournesols. And as always – Lucky Bob n Sophie basking in the love of all.
Vancouver Barbara

WFT Nobby said...

Do Bob and Sophie know the Polish for half a croissant?

Unknown said...

A Hungarian temptress for a would be priest - a novel waiting to be written - or a memoir years later. Excellent article. I had no clue about the extent of the St. James pilgramage.

Emm said...

That's a very good article, thanks. Sending it to a friend who walked the Way this spring -- although I think it was all in Spain; she didn't go by the Rickety Old Farmhouse, more's the pity.

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

which destination are your pilgrims heading to - my geography is shaky - are yours heading for Spain?
No I don't think Goats cheese will make it to NZ McDonalds... but I will watch the advertising more closely in case I am wrong..

VirginiaC said...

How very helpful of you Angus to make sure that the Poles could find their beer in French territory....smile.
Very enlightening article on St.James Way which I read with interest, and now I too feel a need to take a pilgrimage. I hope however that I don't encounter any freaks.
I would have never thought that special Way of St.James condoms were being manufactured specially for pilgrims...things that make you go hmmmm.