Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Only a 50km drive from Bayonne see's you in Saint Jean Pied De Port and this is one of the most beautiful towns in the Basque Country I am told. The drive here feels like you could be in New Zealand its soo green so that means it rains heaps!! The road has many signs saying this is "Route de Fromage" - road of cheese - I need a break from cheese!!
In the 13th century the town served as a military, commercial and religious cross-roads, built on the strategic junction between Pamplona, Bayonne and the north. The name "Pied-de-Port", means "foot of the pass." The pilgrims flocked through this town from the middle ages to visit the tomb of St-James at Santiago-de-Compostella. The main street which is photographed is beautiful and the houses have their dates stamped above their doorways. The oldest is 1510! The scallop shell symbolises the pilgrims of St- James and is seen as carved decoration on many of the houses.
The town today is the main market & commercial heart of the region - and we were lucky enough to cruise into town on a Monday - meant to be - Rod was beside himself A MARKET - FOOD!!! Basque cake samples everywhere so I had to see if Vincent and Melanie were not pulling the wool over our eyes by the Basque cake they had both so passionately debated about the previous day and I can say it was far superior to any cake I tried.
We wandered the town and and this place got under my skin after having seen the movie "The Way" and now actually being here, I have talked about wanting to complete this 800 km challenge however it would have to be on bike for me - bikers to ride this road. Watching all the walkers and mountain bikers in town was interesting and questioning myself if I would make it back someday to be one of these people myself - it was quite a surreal experience.
We promised to cook dinner tonight, so we had bought a few things and a bottle of local cider direct from the producer. Well the cider tasted like sheep!!! Vincent decided the apples had been kept in the same barn as the sheep and that why it tasted like that, I couldn''t drink it but Rod persevered and did quite well.
- comments