We arrived late in Lourdes (as was our custom), and dinner was awaiting. And the urgency in this case was to make sure there was time to arrive at the nightly procession. We checked into the Hotel Impérial and ate a delightful meal. Well, it's France - if the food is no good, we are in real trouble! After dinner, we made our own way to the procession at the basilica.
Note that many of the photos here are blurry - they were all hand held exposures, some of them quite long, and I had no tripod.
The procession starts at the grotto (behind the basilica) and passes the basilica before making a U turn to return to the basilica steps.
The procession starting from the grotto and coming through the arch on the right. The wavy line in the left is somebody with a lighted candle moving along.
The statue of Mary is carried at the head of the procession.
The procession moving along, with people (on the left) waiting to join.
The classic Our Lady of Lourdes statue faces the front of the basilica. The procession is heading away on the left side, and turning before coming down the right side.
At the U turn point, with the basilica in the far background.
The participants now assembled at the base of the basilica.
There is a choir in front of the door to the basilica. As I recall, the hymns were being sung in several languages.
Towards the end of the events, the upper basilica has its spire illumination turned on, and makes quite a sight as each section appears from the darkness.
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