Jaap Rameijer's Blog

It is incredible. The things that have happened in the past two months. Looking back at all the pictures I took, I now realise how many people we have met and how many places we have visited. And I am amazed and tired as well.

These are curious times. I feel that we just had to meet many of the people that came to our place. And that we had to guide them to these special places. And to talk to them. I also feel that things are changing now. I know this is what I say every time, but it is true. The tides are turning.

So much is happening. The world is in turmoil. It is terrible what is happening. Things are so bad that they hardly can get worse. Or are we finally plunging in a world-wide crisis? Something good must come off it, it must, that’s what I feel, it must, eventually. That’s what I feel and that’s what I hope.

Finally some rest. So much has happened the past several weeks. But now it is quiet, there are only a few guests and the weather is beautiful. Just as it should be. The only excitement now is the world championship soccer in Brazil.

We had three large groups, one of Stavoor, the ‘pre-pensionados,’ one of Leonie Linssen, with some beautiful girls and one of Thomas Young, a spiritual leader from Germany and Hawai, who came here with a group of 22 wonderful people. There will be a special newsletter for the tours made with this last group. And there were several smaller groups or single persons. Among them my lovely daughter Femke, with her daughter Simone and her friend Roelof. And our friend Hanneke Hoppenbrouwer with her partner Eric.

Here an example of the programs we offer, especially to groups, like the group of Thomas Young. This group consisted of 22 persons, mostly from Germany and a few from Switzerland. A ten-day program. Including picking up people at various places, like airports, railway stations or hotels. Taking them, and their luggage to Les Labadous. Providing accommodation: all rooms have their own shower and toilet facilities (restroom) and the apartments and gites have cooking facilities as well. Serving an excellent breakfast, serving lunch or if required packed lunches and serving dinners.

Also providing guiding facilities (my person), and providing, if necessary, drivers and cars (Franklin and I myself) in our own cars or in rented vans, seating 8 people.

Scotland, a sacred land. With Rosslyn Chapel, with beautiful Edinburgh and its St Giles cathedral. A wonderful country full of flowers, rivers, mountains, snow, lakes, sheep and standing stones. With the sacred valley of Glen Lyon and the magic ‘Praying Hands’, the oldest Yew tree in the world and the impressive mount Schiehallion, the Elf Mountain. The land of Christ, if you read the book “Vision of Albion, The Key to the Holy Grail” by Barry Dunford. The land of B & B’s with incredible Scottish breakfasts, with rivers full of salmon, with all kinds of ales and whiskey’s. The land with the beautiful Isle of Mull with its mountains, its lakes and the sacred church in Dervaig where Jesus and Mary Magdalene are holding hands. And the mysterious Isle of Iona, where Columba is said to have brought Christianity to Scotland. The isle with its magic abbey and its fallen Christ. The place where it is said that Jesus and Mary Magdalene went and where their child, John Martinus was born. And finally that incredible isle of Staffa, with its wondrous rock formations and curious caves. You will be seeing it all, dear friends.

My good friend and colleague, writer Val Wineyard, recently asked me if I would guide two friends of hers who were interested in following in the tracks of France’s famous Beast of the Gévaudan for a manuscript to be published early next year. I am sure it will be a big success.

The story in this blog post comes from what I heard from my new friends, what I saw for myself, and what I found on the Internet. It is a true story. It happened in the period of 1764 to 1767, when a creature called “La Bête du Gévaudan” killed dozens of people, mostly women and children.