Day 1: Orientation

The sun is shining, C4 is having fun as this beautiful day welcomes us to Lourdes. Yes; we've finally made it!

We had a nice ferry crossing, and a somewhat smooth journey through the French Countryside. We all got changed into our pjs, then tried to get some precious sleep on the coach before our busy week.

"Wakey wakey coach four!" comes Christine over the microphone. A bit of petit dejeuner at a service stop then 2 hours later we're driving into Lourdes with Father Sean leading us in prayer.

Today has been a nice orientation for newbies and the experienced alike. We went on Father Seans infamous Lourdes tour, where we visited the rebuilt parish church where Bernadette got baptised

We then saw the cahot, where Bernadette lived with her family at a time when they were at their poorest. The room was tiny, and you really start to understand who Bernadette was. Poor, uneducated, unassuming, yet she of all people was chosen. 

We finished our tour looking at the Basillica and of course the Grotto itself.

Any trace of the floods do not take away from the beauty of the Domain. 

Callum there washing in the holy water! It's cold so a nice relief in this lovely heat. (Don't worry mums and dads. We're drinking lots of water and wearing suncream honest!)

We've had musician and media meetings this afternoon, or just the chance to have a mooch around the shops or catch a quick nap!

Tonight we have our Youth Welcome Mass, which is the first time all the young people from all the coaches will be together for the first time in Lourdes. We've arrived. We're safe. And we're ready to get to the Geneve with our friends from Coach 3. But mostly we're ready for tomorrow, well rested and anticipating the week ahead.