We started the day today under raining condition. It rained for about 2 hours. With the rain, and low vision we took a wrong turn but soon met up with another pilgrim who kindly told us we are backtracking back to La Romieu so we turn back and walk with him onward to Condom.

After a short climb we reach the small village of Castelnau-sur-l’Auvignon and the Chapelle Sainte-Germaine de Soldanum, the remains of a former monastery. We took a rest and join a group of 4 French pilgrims who told us the European and also French special organization give out funds for people who host pilgrims in the villages. May be that’s how some places can host pilgrims and only take donations.

It’s September now and we are walking through many groves of peaches, apricots, and plums. We got a big tomatoes for our picnic lunch today. A very simple but most delicious lunch with a big red tomatoes and some cheese.

The highlight in Condom is the Cathedral of St Pierre, built at the end of the 14th century, which has an ornately carved entrance and the outside of which is slightly unusual in style.

Condom was once an important stopping point on one of the pilgrimage paths to Santiago de Compostella, around which the town developed, with wealth in more recent centuries based around the production and export of armagnac (a popular form of brandy) – initially the trade was based around the port in Condom from where the armagnac was sent to Bordeaux.

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, there is no connection whatsoever between the town and the contraceptive device, they just happen to have the same name. For all that, many people like to stand grinning for a photo next to the sign bearing the town name. There is also a museum of contraceptives in Condom!

2 Nights ago we stayed in one of France’s finest Hotels, Hotel de Bastard! Who knows what the Camino will bring!