Visit to the Basque Country (5)

We didn't hesitate long when our lovely hosts asked us to stay an extra day, particularly as Daniel had the day off PLUS we could share their new passion: borderstone spotting on the French/Spanish border.

About to set off on our adventures, in the car park at Ibardin, just inside Spain

A cromlech (an ancient stone circle)...

...and another

Your faithful blogger, Daniel & Nicole: intrepid explorers!

And here we are, a borderstone. Nicole would tell you instantly what number it was!

One of us in France, the other in Spain. Can't remember which!

This one is clearly No. 9

Although not the best of weather we still enjoyed amazing hazy views over the Western Pyrenees

A mushroom peeping through the snow

Two horses enjoying a mutual scratch

Come on, Nicole, au secours!!!

Back to Ibardin for lunch. Tine chose a wonderful plate of serrano ham & chips...

...and we all chose rosé wine!

Merci, les copains, pour un excellent séjour and thank you for sharing your photos, Nicole.

Anyone interested in the borderstones? I discovered this fascinating website http://www.grpdesbf.nl/index.html

Have a look at this!

New holiday blog for your pleasure
http://tunisiandelights.blogspot.fr

Visit to the Basque Country (4)

Back into Spain again in the evening, this time to sample the delights of a cidrerie, a Basque restaurant with a set meal accompanied by cider.

The owners were proud to display trophies for their brews

School dinner style, the food was served to share with your group. No plates, just knives and forks.

The star of the show: huge casks of cider

The trick is not to spill a drop...

...and only serve yourself a small amount at a time. It's all good exercise back and forth from benches to casks!

On the menu? Smoked cod omelette and fried smoked cod for starters, followed by côte de boeuf, very rarely done. For pud, cheese served with pâte de coings (a solid quince jelly) and walnuts. Hope you're impressed by my sampling everything! 

Much quieter now as we finish our ciders before the return journey

Visit to the Basque Country (3)

Getaria has a 'presque-ile', a rocky headland attached to the mainland at the port.

Tine captured this great zoomed shot of a group of fishermen tending their nets...

...whilst Nicole & I hit the long & winding road!

Along the way, fantastic carvings in the rocks

Finally, the summit and the lighthouse...

...with a few feathered friends for company.

In a clearing on the way down an old steam engine!

Back to the port and it's still all systems go,

this trawler nuzzling its way between two others

and two of its workers with a great way of disembarking!

Visit to the Basque Country (2)

Next morning we awoke to a glorious blue sky and poor Daniel working, leaving the three of us to motor into Spain. Destination: Getaria, to the west of San Sebastian. Getaria is a working fishing port. We didn't see any catches but lots of activity!

This saint looked over the entrance to the harbour...

...and the defrosting chicken for someone's lunch. Can you spot it?!

The old town looks over the port,

...Nicole's car safely parked

and a wonderful view of the beach.

In the town we found the beautiful church of San Salvador...

...and a fantastic 'lift' system for barbecues!

Many of the photos used in this series of posts are Nicole's. Merci beaucoup! Have a look at her blog and practise your French on http://coxigrue.wordpress.com