Yesterday was officially one month since I started my pilgrimage. Although things started off a bit rough, I am enjoying myself immensely. The freedom to move as I please, sleep when I want, study when I want and feel no pressure from deadlines or people needing or expecting something from me is truly something that takes getting used to. I have never spent an entire afternoon just watching people walk by and enjoying the views around me without thinking of other things I should be doing. I still have projects I am want to work on but I work on them at my leisure.
I have seen so many beautiful views and met so many wonderful people I'm wondering if I will ever have the desire to go back into the normal system of life again. To be able to help people at will and think of others without having to worry about yourself, your responsibilities or what it will cost you is a blessing to be adored.
I have seen so many beautiful views and met so many wonderful people I'm wondering if I will ever have the desire to go back into the normal system of life again. To be able to help people at will and think of others without having to worry about yourself, your responsibilities or what it will cost you is a blessing to be adored.
The beach in Arcachon was basically a bust due to bad weather. Had the beach mostly to myself. It is a lovely beach with fine sand but it is in a bay so there are no waves. It would be very fun playing with family or friends in the sand and in the water as it is like a giant swimming pool.
The day before I was told to take the surface roads instead of the highway as the views are so much nicer. I started doing so and received two short lifts when the second lady, who spoke very little English, took me to the highway saying it would get me to Bordeaux much quicker. I tried telling her I wanted to take the scenic route but she didn't understand. After waiting for over an hour and a half at the toll booth and none of the richer people who can afford to pay the toll would pick me up, I ended up setting my tent up in a small field of ferns. The next morning I waited about another hour before a trucker finally picked me up. He went about half the distance then dropped me off at 10:30 am in a small town area then said if nobody picks me up by 1:30 pm he will be back and can take me to Bordeaux. After about an hour of hitch hiking I was picked up by John Philip.
The day before I was told to take the surface roads instead of the highway as the views are so much nicer. I started doing so and received two short lifts when the second lady, who spoke very little English, took me to the highway saying it would get me to Bordeaux much quicker. I tried telling her I wanted to take the scenic route but she didn't understand. After waiting for over an hour and a half at the toll booth and none of the richer people who can afford to pay the toll would pick me up, I ended up setting my tent up in a small field of ferns. The next morning I waited about another hour before a trucker finally picked me up. He went about half the distance then dropped me off at 10:30 am in a small town area then said if nobody picks me up by 1:30 pm he will be back and can take me to Bordeaux. After about an hour of hitch hiking I was picked up by John Philip.
I think this was a jelly fish that washed up on shore during high tide.
John was 22 years old and told me his younger brother was killed by a drunk driver a week ago and last night his girlfriend of three years just told him she doesn't love him anymore. He also hated his job and tears began to flow. My heart went out to him as I began to share a few tears as well. During our long journey we talked and he ended up changing his schedule so he could take me all the way to Arcachon (the beach I was heading for near Bordeaux). He ended up buying me lunch as well. Without going through the details, he ended up saying, if he had not met me today, he would have been crying all day and probably for weeks and now look, you've put a smile on my face.
He also said I was the first American he has spoke to and I am different from other Americans because he has seen documentaries and such. I explained to him that I am the way I am because other American's taught me to be this way. I explained that I also had prejudices against French people because my first encounter was Paris and I thought all French people were just as rude and despiteful as the people from Paris. We both have discovered that the media paints inaccurate pictures of the world and most people are good and helpful. It is only the big cities where people turn their heart to stone and care for money more than their brothers and sisters.
His phone's battery had died so he couldn't contact his company or check his emails. I told him I have a computer if he can get me to a place where there was WIFI so we found a McD's and he checked his emails and was able to contact his company. He ended up getting good news all around and he was jumping up ecstatic. He then said, “Can you believe it? This morning I didn't want to live and now today I have met a Mormon who has changed my life.” He then told me “the road turns”, It which is a French expression meaning basically, life changes. He thanked me over and over again but I reciprocated the thank you because he helped me more than I helped him. We helped each other in our various hours of need. Before he left he gave me a bottle of grenadine syrup and a T-shirt from his company. It was a great discussion and one I wish I could have every day.
John was 22 years old and told me his younger brother was killed by a drunk driver a week ago and last night his girlfriend of three years just told him she doesn't love him anymore. He also hated his job and tears began to flow. My heart went out to him as I began to share a few tears as well. During our long journey we talked and he ended up changing his schedule so he could take me all the way to Arcachon (the beach I was heading for near Bordeaux). He ended up buying me lunch as well. Without going through the details, he ended up saying, if he had not met me today, he would have been crying all day and probably for weeks and now look, you've put a smile on my face.
He also said I was the first American he has spoke to and I am different from other Americans because he has seen documentaries and such. I explained to him that I am the way I am because other American's taught me to be this way. I explained that I also had prejudices against French people because my first encounter was Paris and I thought all French people were just as rude and despiteful as the people from Paris. We both have discovered that the media paints inaccurate pictures of the world and most people are good and helpful. It is only the big cities where people turn their heart to stone and care for money more than their brothers and sisters.
His phone's battery had died so he couldn't contact his company or check his emails. I told him I have a computer if he can get me to a place where there was WIFI so we found a McD's and he checked his emails and was able to contact his company. He ended up getting good news all around and he was jumping up ecstatic. He then said, “Can you believe it? This morning I didn't want to live and now today I have met a Mormon who has changed my life.” He then told me “the road turns”, It which is a French expression meaning basically, life changes. He thanked me over and over again but I reciprocated the thank you because he helped me more than I helped him. We helped each other in our various hours of need. Before he left he gave me a bottle of grenadine syrup and a T-shirt from his company. It was a great discussion and one I wish I could have every day.
A random peacock at town hall in Bordeaux.
Google maps lied to me telling me this is where my son's in-laws lived.
A lady there from Chad actually gave me a lift to their house.
Google maps lied to me telling me this is where my son's in-laws lived.
A lady there from Chad actually gave me a lift to their house.
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