les combelles 46

Madam, After reading your message, I want to explain why I rated our stay 3/5. Your gîte was very clean and, as you said, had a TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a washing machine, and a bedroom for two. It felt like a furnished apartment that could be listed on a site such as Airbnb. The breakfast was complete, though orange juice was missing. You said the rating was for a gîte occupied just by the two of us. We were the only guests because there were no other pilgrims that evening, though we would have been happy to meet them. We never asked you to reserve the whole place for us. We used the TV, kettle, and washing machine, bringing our own tea bags and detergent. Cleaning and airing the rooms seem like basic parts of running the place. The biggest issue for us on the Camino de Santiago was your behavior. You came into our room twice, which felt unacceptable. At dinner, which you chose not to share with us, you kept opening and closing the front door so often that it felt like a farce. You wore a mask when we arrived, then were absent for most of the meal, and I never saw you use hand sanitizer. The five-course dinner was not something to be proud of. I won't argue about the food's quality, since tastes differ and not everyone is a gourmet cook. But you pointed out that the lentils were industrially prepared and canned from Super U, despite having such a lovely garden. That felt shameful. The bread was still partly frozen, we had to ask for salad dressing because there was none, and the fruit salad came in individual vacuum-sealed industrial portions. Pilgrims may not expect gourmet cooking, but we do hope for simple, filling, homemade food. I can send you a lentil recipe if you'd like. You said the sheets and pillowcases were fresh. It was a fitted sheet, not a flat one. We've stayed in more than 16 guesthouses on the GR65, and all had fitted sheets and pillowcases. Pilgrims haven't been sleeping on straw in barns or on rugs for a long time, and clean bedding should be a given. The apples and chocolates were there, as you said, so we ate them. Thank you for those. I had texted the day before to ask when we could arrive. You said there was no earliest arrival time. We stayed in the gîte all afternoon and didn't disturb your husband or keep him from his business. For €87.50, we've found much better places for less elsewhere, and I can share the addresses as references. Finally, we get our credentials stamped at each stop. You haven't had stamps made for the past year because you didn't want to go to shops for non-essentials. Bureau Vallée in Cahors can make them quickly. The stamp may be symbolic and not essential in itself, but it matters to us.

The hosts were kind, helpful, and full of good advice, and the meals were generous, with excellent local and garden-fresh ingredients. The place itself is bright and roomy, very clean, and well equipped. We left feeling rested. I'd happily recommend a stay here, 5/5 without hesitation.

We came away with lovely memories of a peaceful holiday in a beautiful area. The cottage is carefully maintained and only a few metres from the GR65 on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Thanks for making us feel so welcome, and all the best to you.

A really pleasant host, and very helpful too.