Once upon a time long ago in Caraybat, when times were hard, the men of this small village had to look far afield for work. And they went to Spain, for the hay-making season. Hawkers came to the village, and peddlers. They found a village with no men. They took advantage. So did the women.
When the hay-making season was over, the men returned, and the women spied them returning over the distant mountains. Suddenly ashamed and frightened, they fled to the hills. God, in vengeful and Old Testament mood, was displeased. As the women reached the summit, he turned each one of them to stone. And there they are to this day, les demoiselles de Caraybat, a petrified reminder of a summer of sin.
We remembered this legend yesterday when I took our Laroquais walking friends to Caraybat and the dolomies to discover those daffodils I’d been shown on Thursday. I was quite chuffed that not a single one of them had previously known this special spot, and we had a pleasant hour up on the rocks, picnicking and enjoying the last days of the daffodil season.
We followed the walk I’d learnt about on Thursday, and then we finished our day by going to the plateau above Roquefixade to see the gentians there.
Sadly, it was by then rather cold and windy, and most of the gentians had sensibly folded their indigo skirts about their faces and tucked themselves away to wait for a sunny day. We’ll wait too. And when the sun comes out properly, we’ll be back.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
J’adore le coq. 😉
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Moi aussi. Très beau.
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So gorgeous! You’ve got a good eye for how to frame a picture. My favorite is the one of the magnolias in the foreground with the snow-peaked mountains in the background.
I love all the folk stories that you tell about the area.
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Oh thank you! A compliment from a true photographer – *glows with pride*
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You have such a good life, being able to explore the beautiful area around Laroque. I’m very envious…..
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Don’t be! Your day will come. Don’t forget we’re old and grey and have served our time at the coal face… You’re busy having it all, non?
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Thank you Margaret for the story! I didn’t know it. We went to Caraybat last Wednesday and I recited to the walkers -by heart, the beginning of Wordsworth’s poem about The daffodils: I wandered lonely as a cloud/ That floats on high over vales and hills/ When all at once I saw a crowd/ A host of golden daffodils/ Beside the lake, beneath the trees/ Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
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Wow! I’m impressed. Well done. Caraybat’s lovely, isn’t it? We can swap notes next Friday. Looking forward to it.
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Thanks Margaret, always so very interesting legends and beautiful pictures – and obviousely inspiring Noëlle …..(see her soon, maybe she’ll recite it for me as well) – bonne journée et bonne continuation – AnnA
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Now then, a poetry session over lunch. That WOULD be fun! xx
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…………good idea………….let’s do it, let’s do it !!! xx
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Well, I’ve got one for today
‘The rain it raineth every day/Upon the just and unjust fellah./But more upon the just/Because the unjust hath the just’s umbrella’
In other words, it’s POURING here.
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…..oh Margaret,thanks, I’ll send you a poem as well, you may have a good laugh…….xx
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Please do!
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Reblogged this on From Pyrenees to Pennines and commented:
This hasn’t been a week for writing for fun, as while I was having a good day in London on Monday, Malcolm ended up dialling 999, and is now in Harrogate Hospital after a heart attack. I wasn’t told until well on the way home, which may have been as well, as there was nothing I could have done. He’s awaiting transfer to the much bigger James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. But there’s every reason to assume that all will be well.
So I’ve picked out this post from six years ago to re-blog. Who doesn’t love a good yarn, spring flowers and spectacular views? It cheered me up, anyway.
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