Lascababes and the kindness of a Stranger
Our next stop was the little village of Lascabanes, in the beautiful Quercy countryside of southwestern France. Lascabanes is a small village along the famous Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage route that has brought travelers and pilgrims through this region for centuries. Hospitality and welcoming strangers seem to be part of the landscape.
What made our stay here particularly memorable, however, wasn’t the village itself, but the wonderful place where we stayed, Au Chemin Traverse, and its owner, Hans.
Hans was quite a unique character. Originally from Belgium, he had settled in this part of France nearly twenty years earlier. He now lived alone, running his beautiful home and welcoming travelers who found their way to his door. There was something special about the place, and much of that came from Hans himself. He was a fantastic cook, and his home had a warmth that made you feel less like a guest and more like someone being welcomed into a friend’s house.
I suspect Hans might once have been an economics professor. He was thoughtful, intelligent, and clearly enjoyed a good discussion. He and Tom hit it off almost immediately. They had plenty of different opinions and weren’t shy about expressing them, but I enjoyed watching them disagree without becoming disagreeable. They challenged each other’s thinking, shared their perspectives, and genuinely enjoyed the conversation. It was refreshing to see two people with different viewpoints connect through curiosity and mutual respect.
The next day, when it was time for us to leave, Hans kindly offered us a ride to the main road. It was such a thoughtful gesture, particularly because we hadn’t expected it. Perhaps it was a small thing to him, but it meant a great deal to me.
As we continued on our journey, I found myself thinking about our time with Hans.
There is something lovely about the generosity of people who open their homes and share a little of their lives with strangers. For a brief time, we were part of Hans’s world, and I was grateful.
Of all the things we carried away from Lascabanes, my strongest memory will be the kindness of a man named Hans and the reminder of the beauty of simple experiences and the kindness of people.
You are loved…
