The countryside around here is known as the Plateau of Aubrac. There are very few trees, which is a big change after the pine forests of the last few days. This means the timber industry is behind us and the farming seems to be mostly dairy cows ( the region is known for its cheese).
I think the weather forecast is for the same tomorrow with an improvement on Sunday and Monday.
There are still many gites here but the numbers of pilgrims is getting smaller. Our group of 4 has been the only people in the gite yesterday and today, which I like myself.
(Gite d'Etape means pilgrim group accommodation like the albergues in Spain last year, whereas gites d'hôtel or chambres d'hôtel mean private rooms in a hotel. A typical price for a bed in the gites d'etape, plus dinner (which is often very good) and breakfast is 29 Euro. Last year in Spain it was between 15 and 20 Euro, though it might have gone up a bit this year.
Around here the gites cater for other people as well as pilgrims and there are winter sports here like skiing and cross country skiing, as well as some crazy thing involving a parasail and skis.
It looks like you're seeing some beautiful countryside. Hope it stays dry while you're walking.
ReplyDeleteA little bleak, but as you say, beautiful in its way.
DeletePaul, van land verwisselt, het lijkt echt Schotland. Prachtig plateau.
ReplyDeleteYes, bleak and cold. I'm right at home.
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