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The wild mountain wind whistles past my bedroom window, cause for celebration as both my parents had good news re health today.
Day began with customary coffee then a short walk in the woods talking with Pat and the dog.
Another walk to buy bread, taking Coffee in the main square people watching, the weather was muggy warm and humid,
My to do lists failing, DecThlon when but it simply does not matter. Walking observing, feeling, what next,
maybe contact Ted Simon for writing workshop in Aspiran.
Walking slowly, not cycling one notices the sound of the birds, smell of the fresh lavender mixed together with garden roses their mixed pungent aroma filling my nostrils and making me feel truly alive.
Polite school children on an excursion fill the footpath, awaiting their elders. As I turn in to the old town abandoned industrial workshops a young lad on 50cc scooter dirt bike passes me flat out yes don’t criticise remember those days everything was flat out.
The velo bike parking garage being shared with a nice new Honda Africa twin. Staff sat out at a wooden table eating their early lunch like a picnic looking relaxed.
The Recycling shop closed on Tuesdays open pm Monday Wednesday Friday, I will be back. The weather started of being a beautiful perfect day now grey and over cast with threatening clouds.
Walking around the village or town going slow pace noticing houses for sale, old ladies wearing bibs looking out of their windows. Hearing the birds seeing the animals and everything one would not normally see. Also noticed things like narrow foot paths. Walking was never much of a priority however that’s changing in BdB and other French towns. Noticing things like a very narrow footpaths, whole new light poles things that simply would not get away with in the country that we live in. Some things however make one feel at home bringing a sense of familiarity like Lidl and Aldi shopping experience and while France used to be very considerate towards cyclists and cycling general acceptance of the things have changed over the years and there's a growing non caring attitude from other road users whether general societal attitudes have changed or it’s due to People bringing city attitudes with them. Its really noticeable as is the lack of tourists as a few years ago I know more camper-vans the visitor compared to normal compare the main season in particular cyclists I’ve so seen so far are mainly European.
Seeing two Belgian adventure riders soft luggage loading up food and a bottle of wine was obvious to me me they were trans euro trail riders. I did not talk to them but regret that now. knowing it would have been tough to put it mildly Belgium plates long-distance riders soft luggage that would definitely.
Shops shut forgetting that both the French and the Spanish have a siesta time so everything is closed from 12:30 sometimes later maybe that's what I should be doing would you believe it just come across the sign that’s Malvern is BdB twin town.
Urban factory buildings hint of days gone where BdB had an industrial past.
The old railway lines in the roads going to overgrown gates clearly not been used in many years, hinted to this history. Some of this industry still has a presence and may even rejuvenate the train lines once again saving trucks & road traffic.
BdB has benefited from a range of different land protection schemes (including Monuments Historiques (Historic Monuments) and Sites Naturels Classés (Listed Natural Sites)), the heritage of Bagnères-de-Bigorre also derives its wealth from an urban fabric of high architectural quality.
The town was founded in the Roman era due to the hot springs that can be found there. A few traces of the medieval town remain, like the gate on the Eglise Saint Jean church, the Tour des Jacobins tower and a few vestiges of the ramparts. The 17th and 18th centuries left their mark on this town through beautification activities closely linked to the arrival of the kingdom’s prominent figures. I will check out these sites during my visit this time.
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