April 24, 2014

Quite the day!
As we woke the morning of the 24th we expected nothing out of the ordinary to occur. The plan was to leave Vivier, France on a bus to Nice, France and fly straight through to Stockholm, Sweden but the trip was moving too smoothly, something was bound to happen. We left Vivier, France at 8am to arrive in Nice, France for our flight departing at 1:20pm but a miscalculation in time left us with 5 minutes to bored and check luggage, therefore we missed our flight. This is the first time a Rivier travel group has missed a flight. After waiting in the middle of the Nice, France airport for 1-2 hours, we found an available flight to Brussels, Belgium taking a connecting flight to Stockholm, Sweden with exactly 42 seats available (the amount needed.) as they tried hard to get the seats we got 37 and 5 adult travellers flew in on a later flight. After a long afternoon, pitstop in Brussels (chocolate) we arrived at our hotel at 11:30pm and went straight to sleep. It was an eventful day but hey we got an extra country to add to the list!
Danielle Dore and Morgan Balan

More Pictures From Bourg St. Andeol

April 22 - 23

April 22, 2014
Bread for breakfast!
In a continent far, far away, in the land of bread and blue cheese deep in Mother Rivier country the grade 11 students continue their march in her footsteps. In Montpezat we travelled the path, covered in dog dodo, on the way to the "desert ". We visited the church of Marie Rivier's baptism and followed the stations of the cross up a small hill to reach the top for a magnificent view of the surrounding French countryside.
  A short walk from there took us to the home where Marie was born where we happened to meet one of the Rivier descendants. We followed the roman road she followed on her way to the "desert" to pray, the backyard of the family home where Marie gathered the children is now surprisingly occupied by a swimming pool.
  We then loaded the bus and headed to Thueyts where we had lunch in the playground of the school there. After lunch we toured the convent where we saw the chapel where she prayed, the kitchen location of the wheat bin miracle, and her bedroom.
  Returning to Viviers! we followed a very narrow, winding road through the Gorges d'Ardeches. Nobody even threw up! The bus we were on for the day was too small so three of the men got to ride with a sister in a Persio 106 (thanks Michaelin).
  After returning to Viviers we explored the old monastery/jail/seminary that we were staying at. We toured the cathedral here that Sacred Heart in PA is modelled after. One of the bishops here was named Bishop Pascal.
  Even though most students napped on the bus, Sr. Mary wanted everyone  in bed by 9:30. Bonsoir.

Wednesday, April 23
This morning we travelled to Bourg St-Andeol. The weather was beautiful, sunny and very hot (27) ; perfect tanning weather. First we explored the open-air market that was full of many things from food to fashion. As the market closes at noon we went to the convent for lunch. After a delicious meal of sliced pork and fries, Sr. Mary gave us a tour of the convent, starting with the garden where enjoyed the fountain and the plush greenery. The highlight of the tour today was the chapel, which was magnificent. Even better though, was being blessed with the chance to see the bones of Blessed Marie Rivier which is a very rare opportunity and hasn't been done in many years. After the tour Mr. Sander led us on a walk around town where we saw the place where the ship sailed from to carry the sisters to Canada. Along this walk, we went into a church with very high ceilings where some of our choir members sang "Look at the Cross". They sounded amazing! The last thing we saw was an old Roman bath house. On our way back to the convent Sr. Mary very kindly bought us all ice cream.
  We returned to Viviers where while we were packing we were startled with a very loud thunderstorm. Overall, we had a great day full of many treats that we are all very thankful for.
 

EUROPE TOUR 2014: April 17 - 21

 

Thurday, April 17/14

Arrived in Lourdes around 9:00 p.m without any main incidents.  Plane out of Calgary was 1:25 late departing due to snow and ice.  Late supper and off to bed at Hotel du Gave.

Friday, April 18/14

Mr. Sander led an Orientation tour of the town and then it was time to visit the market.  Cheese, pate, and fruit purchases were fairly major.

Thomas' new hat was a hit with several of the girls, as they borrowed it to take selfies.  In the p.m., the group took an 800 m Trip by funiculaire up le Pic du Jour (mountain in Lourdes). The view of the Pyrenees was breathtaking as the sky was unusually clear.

Sat. April 19

This a.m. (Again sunny) saw the group at the Chenin de croix ( way of the cross). In the afternoon we viewed a movie about the life of St. Bernadette followed by free time (more serious shopping) till supper.  At night we attended the Easter Vigil in the underground church of Pope Pius X.  About 10K people in attendance.

We awoke to light rain, which continued through most of the day.  The first visit was to the home where St. Bernadette was born.  Then it was off to the cachot, a small room where St. Bernadette's family of six lived when she was 14. We had time before lunch to tour the Castle of Lourdes, which include a botanical garden, art museum, and climb to the top of a tower. Brooke dazzled everyone with her love of snails, not the eating kind. At one point she had four of them in her hand, all with their bodies suctioned to her palm.

After lunch, we headed to the Grottes de Bettheran, a 3 km cave tour that fascinated everyone ( not to mention the most fantastic guide you could imagine).

More shopping followed and supper came at seven. Then we headed to the shrine to light an 18 kg candle ( a Rivier group tradition). On the candle were placed the names of loved ones lost in the past year as well as a few people in need of our prayer.

Mon., April 21

An early bus ride (7:00 a.m.) to Carcasonne, a Roman walled city in the Southern part of France. At the Bascilica, we were treated to a Russian quartet singing traditional Russian hymns. Lots of shopping, lunch, and taste testing of cheeses, sausage, and wines. Some of the group were brave enough to try chestnut sausage, donkey sausage, and to Sr. Mary's chagrin, mushroom sausage.

At 1:30 it was off to Viviers ( another four hours on the bus) where we will stay for the next three nights. We are being lodged in a former monastery, which also was a prison during the French Revolution.

Due to a road washout our driver, even with GPS was baffled; after some much needed help from Mr. Sander, we arrived at Viviers to get our rooms and have supper. After supper the group took a short walk to the cathedral and a grassy lookout over the Ardeche valley.  Many pictures were taken in Mr. and Mrs. Sander "marriage tree". Hope this doesn't cause too many parents to be concerned. Tomorrow it's off to Mother Rivier country.