A walk with Michael part 2

May 28 cont'd

We walked and walked and walked. The path, which lay beyond the "new" Chateau, was narrow and tree lined, with acres of land on either side. Michael had said to us, "If you liked that Chateau, wait til you see the one we're about to visit!"

We were just a walk away from the original Chateau de Juigne, the home of Count Logre's ancestors. Built in the 14th century, it has naturally gone into disrepair. Around the 1950's the family made some renovations but the work was never completed. And then, some years ago (I can't reemember when exactly), one of the Count's sons decided it would be a good idea to continue the renovations so that he and his wife could move in and live there. According to Michael, the man's wife took one look at the Chateau and announced, "Live here? Never."

Side view

Front door. You can see the temporary wooden door used during the renovations

Detail from side of front door

We had peeked in the windows and seen what we could. But wouldn't it be fun to go in? Mercedes was nervous; the rest of us were willing to give it a try.

Not through this door

We gave up after trying to get through the wooden door (which was blocked from inside) and were about to head back when I noticed a side door. There was another wooden barrier but this one was on it's side and all it took was a jump past the rubble and we were in!

Original fireplace,walls and ceilings. (You can see the renovations taking place) Each of the 3 floors had similiar main rooms and fireplaces. There were also smaller side rooms off the staircase.

Exploring all three levels

Dad was fascinated by the ceiling

Michael was playing with my camera and trying to work the video.

Heading back, hand in hand.

We had such a good, good time on our "walk with Michael". I hadn't seen Merecedes in better form for years - she was very funny and upbeat - just a lot of fun to be with. Michael does absolute wonders for her and she thrives in his presence.

We made it home just in time for cocktails. It had been a full day and turned into a beautiful afternoon and evening.

I have to add that we had been confounded to find that the main door/gate to the Monastery was closed for 8:30 Compline, which seemed odd since Granner, Lita, Willie and I had always made Compline when I had last visited. We mentioned this to Michael during this cocktail hour and he assured us that we could go in as long as we arrived by 8:15. So while Aloise drove to Sable to pick up her friend Antje, Dad, Mercedes and I prayed Compline with the monks.

Here again Mercedes was her old self. During our walk she had spoken to me about being "fascinated" by the monks and their rituals during Masses and the Hours. I explained the rituals as best I knew them and was able to guide her through the little booklets arranged at the entrance of the Church which aided "the people" in following the particular Hours. One page is in Latin ( which the monks chant), the opposite page in French. I was able to follow pretty well, with some understanding of Latin and more of French. Mercedes had vivid memories of Latin Masses from her youth and so found the reading fairly easy to understand.

Almost every evening Dad and I would walk through various parts of Solesmes, the old and the newly constructed neighboorhoods. After a quick greeting/meeting with Antje ( whom we immediately liked) and discussing with Aloise the idea of all of us taking another outing the following day, to another Medieval town close by, we said good night to the girls and took another of our evening walks.