Back from a Short Holiday

Where to begin? What to include? How much is relevant?

Difficult questions. Nobody likes to hear unending tales of somebody else's holiday, and besides, my purpose here is to document my view of brethren life and my leaving of it, not just pour out anything and everything of what I do. Having agonised that far, I will say that I feel much richer for having been away. There are parts of life that were closed to me, aspects I only dimly knew existed, and taking a leap for a few days into a different area helps to open up the doors of perception, even if it isn't long enough to allow any claim of deep experience.

I said I was visiting the south of France. Having been, I would say that I have visited Catalonia. The signposts are in two languages, and point to Andorra and Barcelona rather than anywhere obviously French. It's a region that I can't imagine any brethren ever going to, though, even if some do live across the Spanish border.

Our base was in the centre of Perpignan, in a little street I suppose (somewhat naively) is typical of a thriving modernised medieval city on the Mediterranean. In other words, narrow, paved, with old tall buildings each side, painted assorted colours. Shutters, some open, some closed, on the windows, and balconies and roof-gardens stuffed with various items of inhabitation and festooned with washing. Oh, and wires strung all over the place. The apartment was kindly provided by a friend, and acted more as a sleeping quarters than anything more as it was stripped for redecoration. That adds to the fun, of course. My companion's mother lives mere yards away as the crow flies, on the top of the opposite side of the street, so her place was easily accessible for meals and relaxation - easily, that is, if you like stairs.

Oddly, that bit felt quite natural. I have slept in empty houses before when staying away, as weekend-long special meetings among the brethren often require every spare space to be used.

I won't detail everything we did, but anyone interested can always look up the following:

- Le Canigou
- Grotte des Grandes Canalettes
- Abbaye Saint-Martin du Canigou
- Villefranche
- Palais des rois de Majorque
- Arab Market
- The museum in the Castle
- Petit bus
- Canet plage

Besides all that touristy activity, there was a good bit of sociable relaxation, and one meal for the friends and extended family of my companion's mother. That took place in one of the friends' restaurant on the beachside at Canet ... while the Rugby world cup semi-final between England and France was showing on a big screen. Now that, one way and another, is a long way from being brethren-style fun. Good, though, even though I can't work up much enthusiasm for the game itself.

And, above all, it was just better than I can say to get away from everything, and enjoy good company, silly and serious talk, and get to know somebody outside the normal routine of life. That, then, is what a holiday is. I can recommend it.