Please excuse any mistakes as I’m doing this on a tablet which is not the best way to do it.
Who:Bill (78) me (71)
What: RS Best of the Basque Country
When:May 14-22, 2024
Guide: Adriana Rodriques Madeira
Age: 30ish-80ish
Weather: cloudy, chilly, sprinkling
05/12 - end of My Way Spain and off to Bayonne
Fly Seville to San Sebastian( Hondarribia) via Madrid on Iberia; taxi to train station Hendaye (bike race in San Sebastián means prolonged wait for taxi- no bus either); buy tickets to Bayonne from machine at station- 30 min.ride to Bayonne; taxi to hotel - could have walked ( rt.turn out of station to river, walk across the bridge and it’s about 2-3 blocks from there) but it was drizzling.
- Mercure Hotel Centralhas an excellent staff and a large room is waiting; staff provides map & directions to restaurants and tram
05/13clear skies!
-excellent breakfast with lots of options; walk to Txik Txak tram stop; tap with card for tickets and get an all day pass; validate on board and take T1 to Biarritz; surfers and intrepid sunbathers in this former Belle Epoque town; walk the boardwalk, have gelato, and just do a wander before heading back to Bayonne; dinner at Ragazzi da Peppone Bayonne, delicious pasta dinner 2 doors from the hotel, staff encourages us to use our pitiful French, excellent fruit crumble for dessert; pouring rain on exit.
05/14tour starts at 5:00
Try to find Jewish Museum across the river, doesn’t seem to be open; make reservations (suggested) for L’Atelier du Chocolat; tech failed us (or we failed tech) and we get horribly lost- Bill’s Spanish saves us and we find the place; self-guided walk through the displays of chocolate history and view current products in process; English speaking staff does demonstration and chocolate tasting; we’ve done several chocolate museums and this is still worthwhile; buy plenty of chocolate
- group meeting at 5:00; discuss logistics, some Basque phrases and pick buddies; orientation walk and then group dinner at Le Chistera; salad, fish & potatoes; Basque tart for dessert and beverage
05/15
a.m. guided tour of cathedral, market and Basque Cultural Museum; free time; lunch is au gratin potatoes and sausage from market; more Bayonne wandering in the afternoon; dinner at Cafe du Theatre. - melon and prosciutto salad & Basque cider for me, warm goat cheese salad for Bill and “big beer for big man” for Bill. Sorry to leave Bayonne
05/16heading to Pamploma
a.m. Adriana loads us in the bus and we’re off to St Jean-Pied-de-Port, one of the starting spots for the Camino de Santiago; 4 ladies are walking a section of the Camino after the tour so they get their passports; we buy walking sticks at a local hiking shop and get them fitted; next stop Roncavalles and Camino hospital; lunch stop is duck confit, and dessert is French toast with ice cream;
p.m. arrive Sercotel Leyrewith bus drop at the hotel;orientation walk ends at Bar Gaucho where we are instructed on how to elbow our way to the bar and order our tapas and drinks; Adriana makes sure everyone is successful
05/17
a.m. orientation walk with Leo (excellent guide) through the streets following the path of the running of the bulls; tour ends at a private museum dedicated to bullfighting; visit ends with a video, pintxos and wine; more walking and then its lunch at a gentleman’s eating club, Jarauta 79 - mushroom starter, paella style dish using noodles, pork cheeks with mashed potatoes and lemon sorbet for dessert; lots of food so dinner was VERY light;