MACHADO BENOIT

. A definite MUST for all literature lovers. In the municipal cemetery, in a little narrow sidestreet just off the main Rue de la République (turn by the side of the Hotel Mas des Citronniers) is the tomb of one of Spain's greatest poets, Antonio Machado. Each time I go there it looks different, because visitors (from all over the world) leave mementoes there. Flowers, of course. Candles in decorated holders. Flags. Crochet items. Dolls. A photo of the Poetry Club from a town in Arizona. And poems . . . School groups in particular seem to turn up with pages and pages of poems that they have written. Somebody official clearly goes and tidies up the grave every so often, removing items, because otherwise it would be piled head-high with these articles. There is also a letter box on the right of the tomb, for you to send your personal message to Antonio in heaven. Presumably somebody also empties that regularly. An indirect victim of the Spanish Civil War, Antonio Machado fled Spain when his life was threatened by the advancing Francoist army, and went to Collioure, with his mother. As a teacher of French, he felt at home in France, but lived there less than a month before falling ill and dying, although only in his mid sixties. His mother died 3 days later, and is buried in the same tomb. One of his most memorable poems is doubtless this one: Caminante no hay Camino Caminante, son tus huellas el camino y nada más; Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar. Al andar se hace el camino, y al volver la vista atrás se ve la senda que nunca se ha de volver a pisar. Caminante no hay camino sino estelas en la mar. Wayfarer, there is no path Wayfarer, the only way Is your footprints and no other. Wayfarer, there is no way. Make your way by going farther. By going farther, make your way Till looking back at where you’ve wandered, You look back on that path you may Not set foot on from now onward. Wayfarer, there is no way; Only wake-trails on the

My phone visited after I lost it. Fortunately it was returned via the police. Thank you to the lovely person who handed it in!

Amazing to visit this bit of history.

A beautiful memorial to a great poet. Much visited & festooned with many tributes

It's a beautiful cementera bit there are more people that A. Machado.

Just like any other tomb

Fascinating churchyard with tombs of locals and surprisingly an English couple.

Place is great but menu is below average.