Leaving the Lot at the end of my first visit in 1996, Wendy took me to the Gare de Cahors and walked out with me to wait for the train and see I got situated in my seat. After lots of waves and kisses in and out my window, I looked away for a moment and when I looked to the window again on my left...Wendy had come up to the glass and was planting a huge kiss. No wonder I had to come back!
I've written before about Cahors being my launching pad and landing pad. It holds so many wonderful memories for me. There was a time when I dreamed about pulling into the parking lot in my deux chevaux, sporting my overalls and straw hat, with Dali on her leash going to meet my friends arriving from all over the world. It's all happened, a little differently than that, but incredible all the same.
I've spent a few midnights in Cahors, usually alone waiting for my train to Paris and then on to the states, or to work in Germany or Holland. This time, I was with Marina as she too got situated to head to Paris on the midnight train. We had fun together. These cars were couchettes so I couldn't really see where she went once she got into her compartment, but I'd have kissed the glass if I could have. Instead, I watched her train pull out. I took a couple of pictures. I shed a few tears.
Then it hit me. My departure is going to be a very different one this time. No walks to the bus stop with my baggage. No coffees and chocolatines in the café. No wanders out to the tracks to wait for my train to Paris. Instead, Dali and Sam and I will be speeding to Toulouse with Evelyn in her car. I will miss my launching and landing pad. Kisses (sprinkled with a few tears) to my favorite Gare de Cahors!
At this moment, I'm wishing we could drive ourselves to the states even though I know it's not possible. Crunching ourselves into the schedules of others and dealing with security drives me nuts. I'm once more trying to just look at it all as an adventure-glad you enjoyed the trains so much and especially Cahors! Love, Moi
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | October 11, 2012 at 04:23 AM
I understand you very well, and going by train is definitively different from going by plane or by car. It became very clear on our tour after so many years of going by flights, I had almost forgotten how wonderful it is to go by train and I'll never forget the atmosphere when we came to Gare de Cahors and went a few hundred meters to the great Hotel Terminus,so we also miss it ! love niels
Posted by: Niels Windfeld Lund | October 10, 2012 at 09:14 PM
I wish everyone could figure out how to comment here and on FB! I know we've already done this, but you know this place is in our blood! I am forever grateful to you...I hope you know that! Love you-Laury
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | October 10, 2012 at 05:59 PM
Oh Laury! You have got TO STOP MAKING ME CRY! I thought I didn't have any tears left in me anymore......Bov Voyage - You'll be back. Everyone returns one day....I know I will!
Posted by: Wendy | October 10, 2012 at 04:40 PM