Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen - Day 2

September 12, 2023 

Lestelle-Betharram to Bruges , 14km

In spite of the lack of sleep because of the storm, we were up and organized quite early as breakfast was at 7.10. After thanking Père Laurent for his hospitality, we were on our way. 

The day was cooler which made for very pleasant walking and the countryside we walked through was beautiful. Filip, the Belgium pilgrim walked a couple of short stretches with us. He told us about the three different sections of Belgium, each with their own language - French, Dutch and German. 

Jeff and I stopped at Asson for a drink and a Basque gateau - very tasty. Then we were on our way to Bruges, our stop for the day - we were there by midday. 

We had arranged with the owner of the restaurant in Bruges to stay in her country house which she allows pilgrims to stay in. We went straight to her restaurant and conversation was interesting as she didn't speak English and I had to use my limited (very poor) French. She laughed a lot. After a fantastic steak meal she took us out to the house, about 3 kms from Bruges.

The house was rather ramshackle but was great to be able to stay there. We managed to tell her that we had our own supplies for dinner as she was prepared to run around on us so we could eat at the restaurant again. She must have been concerned for us though as around 8pm she returned with two very large pieces of pizza and a hunk of crusty bread for our breakfast - to go with butter and jam in the fridge. 

Then things got interesting as she indicated she wanted us to go outside with her and she picked apples, figs and gathered walnuts and said mangez, mangez. What really surprised us she opened a cage which housed quails and gathered half a dozen or so eggs which she took back into the house and cooked then instructed us to eat them. 

Frustrating! The photos have uploaded in reverse order so start at the bottom and scroll up.

Our host putting her hens and geese to bed and giving them a feed.

Jeff at 'our' house - or r host doesn't live there.

The church doorway.

Arriving in Bruges - St Martin's Church. 

Filip on his way. We won't see him again as he's walking longer stages than us.

One way to Bruges. 

Our morning tea break in Asson.

The church in Asson.

One the way to Asson. Great entrance gates Clare. 

The views out to the Pyrenees were stunning. 

Looking back down on Lestelle-Betharram from our path out of town. 

One of the images. 

The first of the amazing structure which house images of the Stations of the Cross. 

A last look at the view from our window. 

Breaksfast time - Père Laurent (standing), Filip in the orange shirt, and Fred and Debbie, the Americans.