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Cardesse 20.07.11 - 27.07.11
Weds 20th: We left home and walked to Christchurch station to catch the 8.33am train to Southampton Parkway. (the airport station) Caroline was waiting at the station, so the three of us journeyed together. Such an easy transfer!!! Enjoyed Costa coffee and as we were already checked in on line, and had no luggage to check in, we were able to walk straight through into the departure lounge with no queues or hassle. Fly Be was on time and comfortable, so we arrived in Pau at lunch time. Mike met us at the airport and drove us to their home in Cardesse.
We relaxed for the rest of the day, chatting , eating and reading. The sun shone and the temperature was very pleasant with a good breeze.
Thurs 21st we drove to St Jaques which is an old village on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella. Beautiful fortress town with a wide flowing river bordering it. We watched some white water rafters negotiating the river and enjoyed lunch (plat de jour) in the Tavern de St Jaques. The countryside is rolling hills, very lush and green with small villages and farms all with views of the distant pyranees. A neighbour, Michelle, a retired Belgium Army Colonel came to visit carrying his chickens eggs. We were invited to aperatifs the following day!!
Fri 22nd: Thismorning we breakfasted, showered and headed for Oloron a small local town where there is a market on Fridays. The town is in 2 halves, and 2 rivers Gave d'Aspe and Gave d'Ossau run through. Very pretty and very empty considereing it is the French holiday season. The market had a lot of local artisan crafts as well as the vegetables and meats and cheeses from the smallholders and farmers. We stocked up with food before taking coffee at the local cafe. You will see the sites from the town as posted in the album. On return to the house we pottered until 5.30pm when we went to Michelles for aperatifs. His chickens are beautiful, one of each colour, grey, white, black, brown with a tail and neck of black and a charcoal coloured one.
We met his daughter and grandaughter. On our return home we cooked dinner, for which Michelle joined us, as his wife is in Belgium for a few days.
Sat 23rdWe spent the morning gardening, having coffee and lunch, chatting and putting the washing out...really tough eh??? There is a story of netting and underpants to make us all giggle but it needs to be told, not written!! In the afternoon we went for a walk from the house. It was a circular walk out along the ridge of the hills and back down through the valley and into the village, around 2 - 3 hours. We passed a chateau, many farms, a wine cave, a massive field of panels for the generation of electricity by the sun, fields of maze. we also saw deer, red kites and various farm animals and lizards. On return to the house we managed to while away the evening eating drinking and chatting.
Sun24th: As it is Sunday we began the day with a very naughty but nice full cooked English breakfast. Obviously we needed to digest our food so put on a CD and went about relaxing tasks...mine was to wrte up my blog and download yeaterdays photos, Mikes was to catch up on his computer news and other tasks, Damians was to read his book and Caroline took a shower and did other essential beautifying things!!! Went for bike ride in the afternoon, saw only 2 cars and a cyclist in the entire time we were out. How busy is that?
The evening was spent once again eating, chatting and drinking. Michelle joined us again , bringing eggs from his well loved chickens.
Mon 25th: Well, the rain is in to stay today. managed to spend the morning being very busy drinking coffee and reading books as well as listening to music and chatting. Went for a drive to the Basque Country and lunch, came home to relax and enjoy the evening.
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