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| La Bastide-Clairence |
I am not sure where all the blue
sky days have gone, and although the temperatures have been cooler the humidity
has been very high, but thankfully a huge thunderstorm this afternoon has
cleared the air.
We have had a really interesting
day driving some of the lesser roads as we headed for Sare near the coast. We
were just talking today about how we have travelled through a number of diverse
regions in France, providing so much variety. From the Alsace, to the French
Alps, Massif Central, Provence, Mediterranean, Pyrennes and now the Basque
country.
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| So often there are ruins on hilltops. |
Lots of sunflowers and corn this
morning, through Bidache then onto La Bastide-Clairence, where we stopped for
lunch. This is listed as one of the 100 most Beautiful Villages with its
beautiful Basque buildings, white facades and half timbering painted in red or
green. It is famed for its artisans but as we were there during their lunch
break, everything was closed. Still enjoyed walking through the town and can
understand why it is listed.
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| Loved this old wood scultpure |
As we drove through to Sare we were
surprised to see signs in both French and Basque language, this really was
something we hadn’t expected, somehow it seemed that we were in a different
country. The architecture is so different to the rest of France, and the buildings are all painted white with the
red or green half timbering.
By the time we got into the Aire
at Sare the thunderstorm had hit and we had heavy rain for several hours. No
point doing anything…except curl up with a book! I am rereading Peter Mayle’s
“A year in Provence” and after being there it makes it so much more
interesting. The rain cleared early evening and I walked up the hill behind the
camp to the town, another one that is listed in the 100 Most Beautiful
Villages, and it looks really interesting, surrounded by hills.
Tomorrow we are catching up with
The Tuckers from Havelock North who are staying nearby, and going to a
restaurant in this town for lunch. Looking forward to it.
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| Signs in French and Basque |
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| Typical Basque house. |
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| Our nights stop, viewed from the town. |
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| Church in Sare |
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| After the storm the clouds hung around the hills. |
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