A Workaway to Remember: Part III

Albi was a town I had been meaning to visit for ages but never managed it. One fine weekend day I and the visiting American workawayers took a day trip there - and it was well worth it! Upon nearing the town I took an immediate dislike to the cathedral, which was made all of brick and reminded me of some sort of giant twisted English private school.

 However I persevered and upon walking inside, was well rewarded. 

The main thing about Albi's Cathedral (aside from its age, begun in the 1200s) is that it is huge. Not only does it dominate the town's skyline, but seeing it up close is pretty awe-inspiring (mainly from the inside, just saying!) After enjoying some graphic wall art depicting people being murdered in vats of boiling oil (a very convincing way of getting people to attend church I suppose) we headed out in search of Macarons. 

On our way out I couldn't help but take a photo of this slightly constipated looking statue. Clutching a fish and bleeding from one eye (okay, it's only moisture on the stone, but still!) she looked less than happy. 

Macaron search successful (even if the Champagne flavour did not live up to my expectations) we headed back to the workaway. Magali and I soon set about creating an even better tepee, with great success, even if it wouldn't win any awards in the beauty department. 

And then all too soon, everyone left one by one until it was my turn. I have never been so regretful of leaving a workaway in my life, which I think reflects what a wonderful time I had. My last night we cooked up a beautiful barbecue and Magali made an epic fire pit whilst Kate and I made delicious vegetable kebabs (coated in pesto, mmmm). 

I will never forget this idyllic setting in a country house in France. Not only did I put the hard work in and see so many of my projects completed, I also was able to experience French village life, eat good food and drink even better wine, and leave with the strangers I first met becoming good friends. 

A Workaway to Remember: Part II

Debi was extremely outgoing and generous in that she was always happy to take us places. The first weekend I was there we all went to visit a few nearby medieval villages, which I very much enjoyed even though I can't remember their names. 

They were the stereotypically small and medieval towns one expects to see in France, and I loved wandering the little cobblestones roads and peeking into the empty church.

Kate, our English workawayer, was always up for anything and great fun to explore with.

Magali the other workawayer being silly as usual! 

The village was full of cats, and I took this opportunity to take a photo as he was looking especially photogenic.

The dramatic entrance to the medieval village. There was also a medieval castle that I rather enjoyed from the outside however didn't feel like paying the fee to go in. A plaque nearby talked about prehistoric animal bones found in nearby caves that were on display in the castle, and also mentioned interestingly enough that the exact cave location was undisclosed to the public to stop people finding and potentially damaging it. 

The view along the river and an old building that we could only guess the purpose of.