We are staying a few days with my friend Francoise, who I worked with in Switzerland many years ago. She lives in the small Basque town of Hasparren and she was our guide as we discovered some of the towns and small villages of Basque country.
Biarritz waterfront
The town and beautiful beach of Biarritz
We carry onto Bayonne, a Basque city that stretches along the banks of the Rivers Adour and Nive, and the capital of the French Basque Country. It’s been a strategic stronghold since medieval times, and the old ramparts are still visible around the outskirts of the old town, but it’s Bayonne’s pretty half-timbered buildings, riverside restaurants and shady cobbled streets that make it one of France’s prettiest towns.
The next day, we travelled to Bidarray, a small town in the beautiful Basque countryside for lunch
Francoise introduced us to Basque Pelota, which is the name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using one’s hand, a racket, a wooden bat or a basket, against a wall (frontis or Fronton) or, more traditionally, with two teams face to face. In the town, the old church with the second floor gallery which traditionally, back in the day, only allowed men.
Then onto the bustling French market town of St Jean Pied de Port. It is the traditional starting point for the Camino Frances, the most popular of all the Camino routes.
Of course, always delicious food and drink along the way🍷
Francoise’s ‘pad’ that she renovated and extended after moving from Paris
Thank you Francoise for your generosity and for looking after us so well. Prends soin de toi, reste fort et positifs. Nous te souhaitons de la bonne santé et nous envoyons nos bonnes vibrations positives💗 See you in a few years!