Oh My Lourdes

The final installment of our summer holiday in the Pyrenees.

Lourdes. We went there. It rained.

The main chapel at Lourdes.

Inside the chapel, well, it was breathtaking.

This artwork looked like paintwork from afar.

But it was actually all mosaic.

This really looks like a painting:

But when you look closer, you can see the mosaic detail. The workmanship is incredible, the detailed piecing and shading of the picture - look at the rays radiating from Jesus' halo. I can only imagine how long these pieces took to finish. 

I think Cate Blanchett was the model for this Mary:

There were plenty of beautiful forms and patterns to inspire quilters.

There is no denying the beauty of the chapel, but downtown Lourdes soon brought this out-of-practice Catholic back to earth.

Many, many shops selling any kind of religious statuette or emblem you could think up.

Can you imagine popping down to St Tropez and engaging in a bit of topless sunbathing on your Virgin Mary beach towel? 

Despite my cynicism I still drank the water at the holy spring. And caressed the stone walls of the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette.

Catholicism is hard to kick.