was that person real?
This area was so different to other regions of France that we stayed
several days parking at the aire at the lake near St Pée-sur-Nivelle.
Other places we visited were the Basque villages of Ainhoa and Sare and on
a rare sunny morning we took an excellent trip on the electric cog railway
built in 1924 to the summit of La Rhune (€13 each) where the views to
the Pyrenees and coast were outstanding. This is a very popular trip and as
we saw the crowds at the terminus we wondered how long we would have to
wait but at busy times they run two trains about 50 yards apart (but it
all closes for two hours at lunchtime at least in May). Feeling lazy we
took the return train down rather than the long walk. At the summit there
was the usual untidy structures of radio masts but also vultures, sheep
and wild Pottok ponies unique to this area
Pottok ponies on La Rhune
After driving up the narrow Col d'Ibardin to the Spanish border and a mini
Andorra with lots of shops selling alcohol and tobacco at a
discount and full of tourist coaches we drove the short distance to the
coast staying at Urrugne and visiting St Jean de Luz with its old town
centre, fascinating church with a very ornate interior and a doorway
bricked up after the marriage of King Louis XIV and Marie Therése so that
no-one else would use it.
blocked doorway at
St Jean de Luz
St Jean
de Luz church interior
Biarritz looked a smart resort despite the wet weather but we didn't stay
there for long before heading towards Bayonne on very busy roads and built
up areas to refill our LPG tank and then back along quieter country roads.
A feature of this Basque region is its unique language and there were many
signs including road signs with strange words and lettering
Basque lettering sign
There were many surfers of all abilities at all the resorts along this
coast as far as Hendaye on the Spanish border with its large flat sandy
and windswept beach, hotels and casinos and several camper vans (mostly
surfers and us - at least for tea) parked on the prom despite the no
Camping-car signs
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La Bastide Clairence
épicerie with drying pimentos
Sare - town square
La Rhune cog railway
St Jean de Luz seafront
Biarritz harbour
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