Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Lezat sur Leze

I cleaned the walkways this morning and then had the afternoon off. I headed to Lezat sur Leze which is the village next to St. Sulpice. I was given the electric bike a map and directions "cross the bridge, like you are going to the mill, and take your second right onto Petite Route de Lezat." I felt good and headed off.

I got to the second right and turned...dead end, plus the name of the street was wrong (obviously). I decided to go with my third right and was off. It was an old road, just enough room for one car, despite it being a two way road. Some hard core bikers were going in the opposite direction. I was getting closer to the Pyrenee Mountains. I passed many fields of dead sunflowers, old houses, trees, and even some cows. I got to the end of my road, which turned into a T. I was not told which direction to go...what street am I on? This end of the street had a name "Chemin St. Sulpice." Did I just bike for 30 minutes on the wrong road?!

Perhaps it has two names? Oh well, what is done is done. I looked on the map for reassurance, but none came as I did not see a Chemin St. Sulpice anywhere. I decided to head left (it was going down opposed to left, which was going up). A split, again, right wins again! About two seconds later I see a sign for Lezat. I made it, somehow.

I decided I had no idea where to stop so just to ride. The streets were smaller than St. Sulpice, even though the village is bigger. I rode until I left the center part and saw a sign for a park. I headed off and parked my bike. I was given two locks for the bike as it is electric and expensive. I spent about 5 minutes trying to get both locks to work and began to walk.

There was a lake that had a path all around it. I was going to walk around it, but there was a couple at the end I was walking towards, who looked busy, and I did not want to disturb. I spent about three minutes at the lake then decided to leave. This meant that I spent less time at the park than I did locking my bike.

I unlocked the bike and headed back to the center. I saw a sign for a bakery and parked the bike. It took less time to secure both locks and I was in search. There were a few tiny stores, how they could survive, I have no idea. I found the bakery and ordered two macaroons (macaroons in France have no coconut, unless they are flavored that way, which is uncommon. It is like a meringue cookie on top and bottom with some jelly in the middle). I got the red one and apple (no idea what the red one was, I know it was not strawberry though).



I took my purchases in hand back to the streets. I walked past the butcher, much bigger and nicer than St. Sulpice's; past a community center where they were playing cards; and to the main street. I arrived at another park and sat. It was in front of a grand hotel, huge and beautiful. Who stays there? How do they remain open? Whatever money they get must cover the bills as the place has not been painted to renovated in quite some time.



I found the village church and went it. it was huge and beautiful. Lots of different stained glass windows with saints on them and (they must have been new) lights. They were very modern and pretty. I looked around and sat for a bit. Why do all of these churches have pulpits? Why doesn't the pastor preach from the front of the church on the stage area that is built?

I headed back to the bike and passed another bakery, why not? I got a chocolate croissant and then sat in the center. They were preparing for the village festival which is at the beginning of September. They had lights strung and it was a beautiful little covered area. After my croissant was gone I headed back to St. Sulpice, knowing exactly where to go.

Perhaps it was the chocolate or knowing where to go but I was in a most excellent mood. It was hot but with the breeze from the bike it was perfect. I began to hum a song and then I turned it into singing out loud, occasionally hitting the bike bell for instrumental. It was a good day for an electric bike ride.

I got home and told Christian about the road having a different name as well as my possible theory of it having two names. He said "obviously" that the name goes with which direction you are going. I have not seen roads like this in America, just roads that change names at intersections, but even then they tell you the names in both directions...oh France

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