LA-FERME – BAZAS
Without opening your door
You can open your heart
Without looking out your window
You can see the essence of Tao….
Lao Tse
At 9 in the morning we were starting for Cadillac, a town 19 miles west from La-Ferme. Here we found out that the pilgrim’s way was no longer going through this town. My guidebook, published 2012, had not recorded this change. In total, Jean Paul drove over two hours to drop me off on the marked way. His generosity and helpfulness were amazing.
It was a beautiful walk to Bazas. The rain filled the air with a heavy dampness and put a great stillness over the meadows and fields. It was just great to walk, to breath, to be
I entered Bazas through the old city gate and came soon to a very picturesque city plaza with the 13th century Gothic church Cathédral Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Instead of statues, little children were sitting in the niches of the entrance to the church. I loved the replacement of the former statues with happy children. When I entered the church, I saw high up in the apsis of the church, standing on scaffolding, a man renovating the heart shaped stained glass window frame. I was touched by the magic of this site.
After having a Bhoudi tea in the café under the Gothic arcades, I walked to the refuge, the Château Saint-Vincent owned by Madame and Monsieur Dumortier. They bought this Château for their retirement days. He was a professional carpenter and she is an artist. Both love to renovate. This Château gives them plenty to do.
