Day No. 193 - France - keep calm and healty

When we wake up this morning, I first have to get my bearings. We started yesterday morning in Ibiza, Spain and I wake up in Ermitage Saint-Ferréol de Céret - 42°31'05.4″N 2°44'31.6″E - France 🇫🇷 . (I love this one I do). So please make sure that the category changes back to "on course in France". 

It was cold tonight. Our battery discharge meant that the parking heater wasn't working. - We have since restarted the system. The heating is working, but it was a bit uncomfortable during the night. - But who wants to complain? We seem healthy, what more could you want?

This morning I read the first complaints about the economic consequences of the coronavirus. - This will certainly hit us hard too. Because clearing out an apartment at a time without a flea market, house flea market and possibly without a parcel service will certainly have unpleasant consequences. - But we will survive. There are certainly more important issues now. How can we stand closer together without standing too close?

Yesterday was our fourth wedding anniversary. Nevertheless, the news we shared was not all positive. - That's why we wanted to share a few photos with you.

- Forever and ever - 

We owe the latter to a completely different wedding couple who had invited us to their wedding. - One of the few Buddhist weddings in Germany. - Buddha said that marriage should be based on a deep mutual respect between the couple and that they should live an equal partnership. - We were able to experience an impressive blessing. But as the rest of the guests headed for the buffet afterwards, we took our chance. "Happiness is the utilization of all possibilities" - We approached the lama, who had come all the way from Tibet, and his German interpreter and asked if he could bless our marriage. What happened next was something I would never have expected. - Instead of laying his hand on us briefly, as expected, muttering a Tibetan "I bless you" and that was it, we were given a blessing that lasted about a quarter of an hour and felt endless. The German interpreter, himself a member of the Buddhist community in Hamburg, explained the blessing to us. What I didn't know beforehand was that the blessing not only included life in this world, but also applies to future lives. - This spontaneous moment was no coincidence, it was what was due. - For me, it was at least as moving as the moment at the registry office. We looked at each other and had tears of joy on our faces. - There were only positive emotions here - our thanks go to Andrea and Martin for making this indirectly possible. Like all the wedding guests, we also received a knotted ribbon around our wrists. This knot is also said to contain a blessing. You are supposed to wear it until it falls off your wrist. - For Torgit and me, it holds pretty well. I'd like to know how many of the guests still wear this band.

Torgit's feelings at the registry office probably topped this moment. - But this is her story.

As the news situation seems rather opaque, we decide to drive on towards Lyon. But first we have to pack. - Once we've finished, we take advantage of the opportunity and walk a few steps up to the Ermitage Saint-Ferréol de Céret - the chapel dedicated to Saint Ferréol in Céret was built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 18th century. From up here you have a panoramic view from the coast to the Canigou massif. - A little fresh air does us good. Just take a deep breath. - Unfortunately, the chapel is closed. - Those who want to pray will find a place of contemplation on the steps.

Just before the chapel, there is a sign asking you not to camp or have a picnic. - I find this form remarkably friendly. - What we really like here is the pragmatism with which the French solve their height restriction at the parking lot. If the height-adjustable "restriction" were also introduced at the beach barriers, we wouldn't have to think about a modified luggage rack. We had often reached the limits with ours.

On the highway towards Lyon, the lane is clear again. - We refuel despite the tank being half full. Some petrol stations in northern France are supposedly running out of diesel. There is no sign of the supposedly reduced fuel prices here. - Another van is parked next to us at the filling station. "No car wash, no hand wash, only rain wash" - That's almost what we've been doing since we lost our outdoor shower. But we have switched to cup washing. So we simply pour the water over our heads from a cup. Necessity is the mother of invention and some things work much better than you might think.

One hour before Lyon, more worrying news comes in: Germany is considering "partially" closing its borders. What does "partially" mean? - I can't and don't want to judge whether such decisions are sensible. There are specialists, virologists and doctors for that. - As we have no idea what this could mean for us, we are changing our plans. Instead of heading to a national park near Lyon, we want to cross the German border tonight. - So we continue towards the border crossing at Mulhouse in Alsace. - We pass one camper van after another. - The license plates reveal that many of them are looking for the shortest route to Germany and are forced to take detours.

When we pass at around 9 p.m., the lane is already limited to one lane. Blue lights flicker through the night. - The police pay close attention to the license plates and then wave us through. - It is a depressing feeling that the freedom of the Schengen Agreement seems so fleeting in this situation. - ½ hour later, we are standing all alone in a forest clearing. Everything is peaceful here, we are happy to be back home. - The tension of the day falls away. - Instead, we become aware of other things.

We had longed to visit our friends in Germany one by one at the beginning of April. - But we will deliberately keep our distance or hug them on the phone. - To protect ourselves? No. It is our responsibility to be part of a society. That is also what makes us united. - Anyone who knows me knows that I am not prone to fear and scaremongering. - This is also absolutely useless. I can survive without food for at least four weeks on my belly fat alone. What about you? Will this be the German fasting weeks? - Hardly, right? - So leave some left over at the supermarket.

We send you sunny greetings - Stay calm and healthy

PS: As our stay in France was only short, please make sure that the category changes back to "on course in Germany".

PPS: Incidentally, March 15 is Back Health Day, which was introduced in 2002 by the Pain Forum of the German Green Cross. - Why do I get tension on this particular day? I haven't had any tension for over a year. As soon as I get closer to the German stress...