Chapter 2

BAGNÈRES DE BIGORRE.

Backward spring--Hôtel Beau Séjour--Effect of the war of '70 on the English colony--The "Coustous"--The Church of St. Vincent--Géruzet's marble works--Donkeys--Up the Monné--Bains de Santé--Bains de Grand Pré--Salut Avenue and baths--"Ai-ue, Ai-ue"--Luncheon--Daffodils--The summit and the view--The "Castel-Mouly"--The Tapére--Mde. Cottin--Mont Bédat--Gentians--The Croix de Manse--"The Lady's Farewell to her Asinine Steed"--Market-day--The old iron and shoe dealers--Sunday--A cat fight--The English Church--To the Col d'Aspin--"The Abbé's Song"--Baudéan--Campan, its people and church--Wayside chapels--Ste. Marie--The route to Gripp, &c.--Payole--The pine forest--The Col d'Aspin--The view from the Monné Rouge--"The Plaint of the Weather-beaten Pine"--The Menu at Payole--Hurrah for the milk!--Departures--Divine music--Asté--Gabrielle d'Estrelle--The ivied ruins--The church-- Pitton de Tournefort--Gerde--The pigeon traps--The cattle market --The Jacobin tower--Theatre--Grand Etablissement des Thermes --Hospice Civil--Eglise des Carmes--Mount Olivet--Madame Cheval, her cakes and tea--Bigorre in tears