Lourdes

I’m not exactly hyper-religious, but I took up the opportunity to go to Lourdes and, as it happens, became the best trip of 2007. Most of that was down to the people I went with, but whatever. It’s pretty ace.

A very spiritual, peaceful, beautiful place for spirituality.

Directly in front of the Basillica at Lourdes is a statue of the Virgin Mary. She has a crown on her head and she is in the center of a circular shaped area filled with flowers. It is said that if you stand in front of her and offer three Hail Mary prayers, you are sure to return to Lourdes!

For those with Faith, no explanation is needed. For those without Faith, no explanation is possible.

This is without a doubt the tackiest place in the universe. The religious people I went with were very offended. The only place that we all enjoyed, and projected a sense of what the place is supposed to, were the candles just past the grotto. Very moving, especially at night!

The grotto at night was supposed to be beautiful, seeing as how there are less people and its more personal if you will… But its only slightly less packed at night as during the day, even at times like 2 and 4am.

I was talking to one of the sick pilgrims we went with, and she said that going in the baths was a horrible experience and she hated every second of it!! Lol!

The basilica’s wernt anything to marvel over either. One looks pretty from the outside, but on the golden ceiling is a really scary looking blonde Mary, and lots and lots of dust and terrifying cherubs (which were really just fat little faces with wings stickin out the side of the head, no bodies)...

So I don’t think it’s worth going, because anything remotely religious is overshadowed by the commercial side of it, and theres not a chance of finding any peace.