Day 10: What a mess!!! The morning in Lourdes was lovely. Bought our last croissants from our lady friend, then beat it down to the basilica. Our last time in the baths. The man, Andrew, who first helped us was there, and spent time talking to us, and introduced his son. When we said goodbye, he made to kiss my hand, and said, “enchanté.” So cute, because he’s Dutch.

While I was waiting for the boys, another man – what a character, spoke with me. He’s been spending three months a year volunteering at Lourdes for 50 years. He was one of the men who assisted Pope John Paul II in the baths. When he said that, I kissed his hand. He was greatly pleased with this. He makes and restores chalices, and Pope John Paul’s was one of his. He told me that the Roys are the most important champagne makers in France ... And good Catholics. (too bad we found this out so late. We would have had an excuse to indulge in an expensive bottle of French champagne!) He was there with the flooding a few years ago, and nearly died.

When the boys came out, we hoofed it back to get our stuff and make it to the train, and then the chaos began. Actually, before the chaos were the nuns. A group of nuns, the Poor Sisters, were also waiting for the train. We had a lovely visit, and they gave the kids cards of their canonized founder. There was a Brit, Irish, Indian, and a bunch of French (sisters).

Then back to the chaos. Back to the mess of the Paris metro, and crowds, and confusion. We had no idea where we were going, and at three stops our train was halted because of bags left at stations, which could be dangerous. (In certain parts of France we really experienced the feeling of fear. Islamic terror was a very real threat.) Eventually, we squeezed our way off the train, mid-stop, and walked through some crowded hallway of hell, to our next train. Seriously, I thought that that could be hell, with Thomas screaming, and the heat, and the unending maze, and people crushing into each other, and no English, and bomb threats, and Scott looked like he was going to pass out with two children on his back, and a backpack, and a stroller full of stuff. Our next train was also stopped because of a threat. By this time, the kids were all boiling, starving, and exhausted. A man gave Thomas a chocolate bar, which helped.

We got off in some strange town with Iraqi and African gangsters everywhere, staring at us. The last bus dropped us off on the highway, which we walked along until we found our hotel. And a KFC across the street. The hotel was clean, and the beds were comfy, thank you, Lord. A very kind taxi driver drove us to the airport this morning. He and Scott had fun talking in French.

And then the craziness of that blimp airport. Oh My Noodness! (An old Roy exclamation.) But we made it to our gate while everyone was boarding, and here we are, watching movies, eating, and drinking champagne … well, half a cup anyways. I  figured Lucy deserved a sip. Everyone is looking forward to home. Elijah says the best parts of the trip were the holy water and the sword he bought. But then when I reminded him of more things, he’d say, “Oh, that too!”

What awaits us at home, we shall see.

These past weeks, I’ve been sharing my memories from our trip to Lourdes three years ago. My Facebook page has been bringing up photo memories, pictures of our trip, at the same time. It really helps to bring our trip back to life for me. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our pilgrimage, and maybe are inspired to one day make your own. All my children, even the smallest, still talk of their plans to one day return to Lourdes. Our faith is so full of history, beauty and mystery. What a gift we have as Catholics. I pray that we never take it for granted.