Ron fixed a special breakfast for me - fried eggs with rice and soy sauce, one of my favorites.
We had planned to pack up so he could load the car that evening, but he had an idea that maybe we should leave today. When we were driving in, we had both commented on the horrendous truck traffic going north out of Spain. Hundreds of trucks creeping along, and only one lane open for passenger vehicles. (Ron thinks this is one of the fallacies of the EU - all the cheaply produced goods from Portugual and Spain come north into France and beyond). Anyway, many countries have a ban on trucks using the autoroutes/autobahns, etc. on Sundays. I searched a forum for UK "lorry" drivers, and it seemed to be that France definitely did, and some of the Basque area of Spain. Ron said he would love to avoid that truck back-up - figured it would take us an extra hour or two creeping along from San Sebastian to Bayonne.
So, we packed up, and Ron went out to see about bringing the car from the garage to a parking spot around the corner. Some kind of event was going on with bicycles and families and roads blocked off. Foiled again! Seems like nothing is easy when it comes to getting around urban areas in Europe! Meanwhile, I finished tidying up the apartment, double-checking that we weren't leaving anything, and trying (without much success) to find a cute place to stop a few hours down the road.
He came back up without retrieving the car, and I suggested we wait awhile and see if it cleared up. He went down later and things were slightly better, so he brought the car nearer to the apartment. Such a busy street that he couldn't stop in front to load, but parking at the curb was free on Sunday, and he found a spot around the corner. He then made a couple trips down the elevator with luggage. He came back to get the remaining luggage (and me), and I hobbled along the Avenida Zumalakarregi around the block to the car. By the way, I finally learned how to pronounce this street we were living on!
It appears the decision to leave on Sunday was really good. There were hardly any trucks to be seen, and traffic was moving smoothly. The only problem was we didn't have a definite destination. Decent hotels in Pau (the "door to the Pyrenees") which had our numerous "requirements" (Wi-Fi, air-con, elevator, and ICE) were very expensive. I had seen a hotel quite a bit less expensive in a town a little further, Tarbes (where we had lunch going the other way). When we drove into the town we decided it had no charm and we were hoping to find a cute little chambre d'hote or B&B in the countryside. But without reliable signal in the car, it was very difficult.
We stopped in a service plaza along the way for fuel, and decided to share a salami baguette, which was very good and fresh. It's good we did, as we ended up without dinner that evening.
Drove into the little village of Tournay, looking for a B&B called The Barns dans les Pyrenees, but the GPS could not recognize it NOR the street where it was located. Super frustrating. Ron chose a hotel at randon on the GPS, and we headed to the thermal (spa) town of Capvern-les-Bains.
We drove past the Hotel de la Source he had programmed to see what else was in the town. It was a very unusual place (not just the hotel, the whole town) - looked like it was in its heyday about 50 years ago (or more). Drove up through the whole village, and came back down another road. There was plenty of parking, so he pulled in. Just opposite he spotted Le Chalet Basque, which appealed to his taste. He went in through the gate, rang the bell and spoke with the French owners. Their B&B rooms were all upstairs, and they were reluctant to rent us the apartment (which was on the ground floor) for only one night. Ron explained that his wife was unable to climb stairs, and they agreed. So, we ended up with a cute little suite on the ground floor for only 60 EU. Ron says sometimes when he "follows his nose" it all turns out for the best. But, we still haven't figured out why someone would go there intentionally!
The owner directed Ron to park inside the fence, as he said it was safer. Like our own private parking spot. The apartment wasn't even made up, so Madame Francois went to make up the bed and make sure everything was ready for us. The husband (dressed in shorts and singlet) brought us a small tray of ice and showed us how to use the television and internet.
We then managed to get a few small, meagre cubes of ice out of one of the trays, and sat in front of the entrance at a table. The owner brought us a plate of crackers. Just crackers, no cheese or sausage! Well, what did we expect with a "suite" for 60 Euros. Cool temps, no humidity, and beautiful outlook into the trees on the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Ron went "walk-about" into the village, just exploring and seeing if any restaurant or even pizza place was open. There was nothing, despite this being the "season". Maybe because it was Sunday.
He had a small adventure. As Kathie says..... "Don't let him out of your sight." He had gone off without his phone, and out of curiosity he saw a for sale sign on an apartment in a large stately but old fashioned building. He went up to peer into the door and saw a magnificent lobby with an old fashioned caged elevator. The door was ajar. He pushed the door and entered the lobby. As he did.....the door closed with a click. Worried, he tried to open the door.....nope. Locked in. There were several buttons to the right and he pushed them all. Nope...still locked in. He had left his phone in the apartment so had no way to communicate his dilemma with me. He pictured being there all night and me frantic as to where he was! He began to study the door and saw a box at the bottom of the door with an electrical cord attached. He followed the cord to see a foot operated switch. He pressed down and the door unlatched. Another adventure . One I am glad not to have participated. How does he get himself into these interesting but stressful situations and stay calm?
When he finally got "home" it was definitely time for an adult beverage, and time to relax in the comfy room. Notice my computer screen on the table, trying to find a place for the next day.
The bed was very low and very soft. I was afraid I might never be able to extricate myself from it! But, we slept well until early morning when Ron seemed to have some breathing issues. We hope it is just some kind of bronchitis, and not the old "asthma" he suffered in European summers years ago. We thought he had finished with that. But, at least we are heading to Germany, where he has seen doctors in numerous places, and has one in Garmisch (our next destination). It used to be like clockwork that by mid-June he would need treatment.
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| Fried eggs on rice (with soy sauce), tomatoes, bread and jam |
So, we packed up, and Ron went out to see about bringing the car from the garage to a parking spot around the corner. Some kind of event was going on with bicycles and families and roads blocked off. Foiled again! Seems like nothing is easy when it comes to getting around urban areas in Europe! Meanwhile, I finished tidying up the apartment, double-checking that we weren't leaving anything, and trying (without much success) to find a cute place to stop a few hours down the road.
He came back up without retrieving the car, and I suggested we wait awhile and see if it cleared up. He went down later and things were slightly better, so he brought the car nearer to the apartment. Such a busy street that he couldn't stop in front to load, but parking at the curb was free on Sunday, and he found a spot around the corner. He then made a couple trips down the elevator with luggage. He came back to get the remaining luggage (and me), and I hobbled along the Avenida Zumalakarregi around the block to the car. By the way, I finally learned how to pronounce this street we were living on!
It appears the decision to leave on Sunday was really good. There were hardly any trucks to be seen, and traffic was moving smoothly. The only problem was we didn't have a definite destination. Decent hotels in Pau (the "door to the Pyrenees") which had our numerous "requirements" (Wi-Fi, air-con, elevator, and ICE) were very expensive. I had seen a hotel quite a bit less expensive in a town a little further, Tarbes (where we had lunch going the other way). When we drove into the town we decided it had no charm and we were hoping to find a cute little chambre d'hote or B&B in the countryside. But without reliable signal in the car, it was very difficult.
We stopped in a service plaza along the way for fuel, and decided to share a salami baguette, which was very good and fresh. It's good we did, as we ended up without dinner that evening.
Drove into the little village of Tournay, looking for a B&B called The Barns dans les Pyrenees, but the GPS could not recognize it NOR the street where it was located. Super frustrating. Ron chose a hotel at randon on the GPS, and we headed to the thermal (spa) town of Capvern-les-Bains.
We drove past the Hotel de la Source he had programmed to see what else was in the town. It was a very unusual place (not just the hotel, the whole town) - looked like it was in its heyday about 50 years ago (or more). Drove up through the whole village, and came back down another road. There was plenty of parking, so he pulled in. Just opposite he spotted Le Chalet Basque, which appealed to his taste. He went in through the gate, rang the bell and spoke with the French owners. Their B&B rooms were all upstairs, and they were reluctant to rent us the apartment (which was on the ground floor) for only one night. Ron explained that his wife was unable to climb stairs, and they agreed. So, we ended up with a cute little suite on the ground floor for only 60 EU. Ron says sometimes when he "follows his nose" it all turns out for the best. But, we still haven't figured out why someone would go there intentionally!
 |
| Our car safe in the drive of Le Chalet Basque |
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| Entrance to our apartment |
We then managed to get a few small, meagre cubes of ice out of one of the trays, and sat in front of the entrance at a table. The owner brought us a plate of crackers. Just crackers, no cheese or sausage! Well, what did we expect with a "suite" for 60 Euros. Cool temps, no humidity, and beautiful outlook into the trees on the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Ron went "walk-about" into the village, just exploring and seeing if any restaurant or even pizza place was open. There was nothing, despite this being the "season". Maybe because it was Sunday.
He had a small adventure. As Kathie says..... "Don't let him out of your sight." He had gone off without his phone, and out of curiosity he saw a for sale sign on an apartment in a large stately but old fashioned building. He went up to peer into the door and saw a magnificent lobby with an old fashioned caged elevator. The door was ajar. He pushed the door and entered the lobby. As he did.....the door closed with a click. Worried, he tried to open the door.....nope. Locked in. There were several buttons to the right and he pushed them all. Nope...still locked in. He had left his phone in the apartment so had no way to communicate his dilemma with me. He pictured being there all night and me frantic as to where he was! He began to study the door and saw a box at the bottom of the door with an electrical cord attached. He followed the cord to see a foot operated switch. He pressed down and the door unlatched. Another adventure . One I am glad not to have participated. How does he get himself into these interesting but stressful situations and stay calm?
When he finally got "home" it was definitely time for an adult beverage, and time to relax in the comfy room. Notice my computer screen on the table, trying to find a place for the next day.
The bed was very low and very soft. I was afraid I might never be able to extricate myself from it! But, we slept well until early morning when Ron seemed to have some breathing issues. We hope it is just some kind of bronchitis, and not the old "asthma" he suffered in European summers years ago. We thought he had finished with that. But, at least we are heading to Germany, where he has seen doctors in numerous places, and has one in Garmisch (our next destination). It used to be like clockwork that by mid-June he would need treatment.
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