Arcadia Discussion Zone

Hi,

About that Burgarach 'Hum', I just read this:



http://shadowtheatre13.com/mountbugarach.html

Damn, it was just bloody insects...

Regards,

Spartacus

Hi,

Sheila wrote:



You assume incorrectly...

Regards,

Spartacus

Sparta, do you have Paoli's book?

sorry...are you saying it is the same Mathieu Paoli ..?

Hi Sandy,

Sandy wrote:



Yes. On my lap as we 'communicate'

Regards,

Spartacus

Sheila wrote:



No. I'd suggest that that is extremely unlikely...

Regards,

Spartacus

So...you mean i assumed correctly!

Sheila wrote:



No, that is incorrect

Regards,

Spartacus

can't follow you at all Mr P.

Sheila wrote:



Ok. What I am referring to is the use of the name 'Matheui Paoli' as a pseudonym at this particular time and place (assuming of course that 'Paoli' is a pseudonym). Obviously, it may be simple coincidence. Unfortunately, I don't know how common either 'Matheui' or 'Paoli' are as names in France. However, and I take you back to my IMHO post regarding the purpose of 'Les Dessous', if the 'Paoli' book is something of an extension of the Priory Documents, the particular pseudonym used perhaps becomes as relevant as the other pseudonyms used in earlier Priory Documents.

Do you get me? In many, if not all, cases the pseudonyms used were part of the subtext narrative...'pseudo-deaths', major scandals, criminal investigations, etc... (for example, the use of the name 'Philippe Toscan du Plantier' in association with Priory Documents)...these associations are not event specific or narrative specific (AFAICanTell) but are instead used to place the Sion Mythos in a particular scandalous/dangerous 'Zeitgeist'...

If pseudo-'Paoli' began using the 'Matheui Paoli' pseudonym around 1970-71, it would have been at around the same time that the other real Matheui Paoli was, publically, claiming conspiracy against the French government...pretty standard fair in the context of the Sion Mythos...

In other words, I am indulging my 'Lovuian' side...

Regards,

Spartacus

I imagine "Mathieu" is not at all uncommon in France, but "Paoli" is of Italian origin, specifically Genoese and wouldn't be that common - it is however probably at least relatively common in Corsica, which was a Genoese possession for 400 years, until a popular resistance overthrew them - it was led by Pasquale Paoli, who became their first elected president and led until the French invaded 13 years later - he is credited with personally writing the first Constitution of what was the first democratic republic (of the modern age), so he is quite the hero.

...and that's how i got to the crash/missile strike of the Caravelle in the first place...whilst digging deep into Corsican soil.

Interesting. I have to admit, this event was not one I remember on any level, but it certainly reminds me of TWA 800.

and...because a verdict was reached all those years ago, it seems the new evidence that's come to light is of no importance and the case will not be re-opened...even though a missile did indeed take out the plane rather than a "discarded ciggie butt setting the toilet carpet on fire"...with the tragic loss of all 95 lives.

please don't quote me...it's too late at night, i'm seeing double and the shepherdess is off to bed .....zzzzzzzzz.

Sweet dreams.

Couple of random thoughts for non-RLC specific half-day to day excursions from Couiza.

1. Lagrasse. If you go out on the D613 road that goes east from Couiza, past Cardou, Pontils, Arques, etc., this goes through some nice, mainly forested terrain, and you can stop in Villerouge-Termenes, a pretty village with a castle, and then onto the town of Lagrasse, which is a nice place to wander about, and its main street is lined with places for eating and imbibing. Nice town. One can also make a longer trip of it, either on the way there, or on the way back, and go to Termes, a rambling and dramatic castle in a wild and remote location that was an important site in the Albigensian war.

2. In the other direction, a day trip to the pretty town of Mirepoix, with its medieval arcaded square and impressive cathedral. And also a much renowned market on Mondays and (I think) Thursdays. Nice for the road trip, because you'd go up there via Quillan, and up the hill out of town on the D117 in the direction of Foix, which means going through some of the best countryside around there, with opportunties for stops at Puivert Castle, which is my favourite in Languedoc, and Lagarde, which is a little village with a burnt out ruin of a castle that makes it a little reminiscent of Coustaussa. And Chalabre is on or around that route as well, which is another nice village.

But the possibilities round there are endless, really .....

Agreed Richard, both Lagrasse and Mirepoix are both nice places to visit for a look around. I've never made it to Puivert though, maybe this year.
Regards
Nic

Thank you Richard. We've organised some sort of itinerary and will print your post to add to it. I'm also considering going to Perillos, if it aint too awkward to get to, Montsegur without climbing to the castle ( not fit enough for that climb ), another place to visit will be Andorra - we like visit wee countries eg Liechtenstein (Midlothian surrounded by mountains) - if it isn't too difficult to get in there.

A few questions: can anyone point out where the Domaine de la Salz is on the IGN map ? How does one get access to inside the church at RLB ? Is the Auberge restaurant in Couiza still open ? Is the Templar museum in Campagne sur Aude still in existence ?

Or there's always Llivia, the little Spanish enclave, surrounded by France.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ll%C3%ADvia

Perillos takes longer to get to than it looks on the map; a tiny, twisting tortuous road, across some real bleak, desolate moorland, that probably looks spectacular on a clear day (I wouldn't know!), but worth the journey, particularly for the ruined castle at Opoul-Perillos, only a fairly short hike off the road. There's not much left of the castle, but the location is dramatic. The "blasted heath" in Macbeth comes to mind up there. It is a bit of a long, low gear trek, though, so I guess it all comes down to time.

Definitely worth going to if travelling that way (it would be more or less en route from RLC), or just going to as a nearer alternative, is Aguilar Castle, near Tuchan, which is truly spectacular, and has amazing views of the surrounding landscape, much of it covered in vine. And you can drive right up to it, so no climbing imvolved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_d'Aguilar

it's over near where I'm staying in Sougraigne I believe, so south through RLB and then take the first left, over the Sals to Sougraigne. Not quite sure where from there though. It's worth popping down that way anyway to see the Fountain or if you have the energy you can walk up to la Soulane (part of the pentagram). There's also a nice restaurant in Sougraigne which I've mentioned before

http://www.ecluseausoleil.com/

I thought about going to Perillos last time but never got around to it, didn't fancy the drive much either.
On my birthday we went to this restaurant in Couiza

http://www.chateau-des-ducs.com/

it's not cheap but surroundings are fantastic. We wanted to eat in the courtyard but we were having the usual, unusual weather in the Aude of torrential summer rain. Montsegur is definitely on my list this time. It certainly looks a climb, just a little bit smaller then Bugarach which takes at least 2 hours to get up

Thanks again Richard & Davinho.

Llivia ? I first read about that place a few weeks ago in a Michelin Green Guide. I thought it was a mistake at first when I saw it in the index "Llivia (Spain)", don't the Spanish like enclaves (except Gib of course !) ? Mebbe we'll visit it, at least we won't have to worry about pesetas !

This is the first large Aven that I knew about and is where the Resistance hid arms

http://youtu.be/UbQ6C5mp_1c

this one is just before the above but completely concealed. Ben Hammott messaged me about it and said roughly where it was but I only really found it by "instinct"

http://youtu.be/p_lCdfXMiSU

I believe the hole leads down to extensive tunnel system but you can see how hard it would to get out without a rope or ladder.

Fantastic videos, how long are you staying out there? Did you manage to visit Montsegur? The climb isn't as bad as people imagine, quite windy, but from the bottom it looks very different. When i visited last year there was a mock burning at the stake scene erected, complete with kindling; made me feel pretty uncomfortable i have to say.

I was out there for 2 weeks, 25th June - 9th July. Didn't get to Montsegur...again. The camp up on Bugarach really took it out of us. We'd planned to go up Bugarch and camp the first Tuesday we were there. The weather had been clear from when we had got there on Saturday. We'd been out in the garden seeing how to put up the hiking tent we were taking in the afternoon and it was blistering. But an hour later as we packed there was a knock on the door and Paul the gite owner stood there saying "Have you seen the weather?"
We looked over in the direction of Bugarach and it was black. So started 2.5 days of unsettled, stormy weather. We went up Blanchefort the next day instead and the top of Bugarach was covered in thick black, angry clouds all day and it banged and thundered almost as if it was annoyed at being stood up.
Little tip if you go up Blanchefort - stay on the track! You might not find the ruins but you won't get lost and have to come down the mountain in a direct line through dense, scratchy forest. I was lucky as I had a hand held GPS to show me where the car was. I just told the mrs the "detour" was because I'd followed the Sat Nav. We ended up going up Bugarach late on the Friday and came down very early on Saturday. We then needed a day or so to recover. I still had the Aven's to explore and the weather was again hit and miss all of the 2nd week so a longish drive to Montsegur, another long climb and perhaps not great weather was enough to put me off. Next time.....again