Sunday, December 25, 2022

Week 12 - December 18-25

 

Our last full week!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Note: This week, we are low key on adventures so, not as many fun photos.


Sunday, December 18

Cynthia leaves early, so we say goodbye by text messages.

This day is busy with cleaning the apartment,
washing clothes and blogging.


Monday, December 19

A day to see what the Ladybug bus has to show us...







A rest stop in town

Pâtisserie Jean-Baptiste Grangé





We discover that the store across the street
has the best baguettes!


Tuesday, December 20

Today, we take the T3 (Lescar-Soleil) bus to Lescar.




A center for all mega stores
from bricks and mortar, athletic wear to groceries. 


On our way back





Then
Dinner at YouSushi 





Wednesday, December 21

Les Halles for lunch
and shopping

Les Halles deck
for lunch - no tables?



Tables and chairs in the shade




Our walk home...

Place Clemenceau


The church bells ring when we pass 

Eglise Notre Dame



Thursday, December 22

Our walk today is to Centre Commercial Tempo/E'Leclerc
for Christmas Dinner treats.

The walk back starts at the Pencil

Check out the Pyrenees!
(If you can)



The booty from our walk


Dinner tonite...
Mr. Fry and Grill





Friday, December 23

Another day of hanging out at Rue Emile Garet..
Do some wash, dry at Blue Wash
Nap and watch TV (now that we know what is available in English)


We try O'cheez across the street...


Not impressed.  Got our order wrong, but it was fine
because it wasn't so great.



Saturday, December 24

Getting ready for Christmas - 


We just hang out today and ready ourselves for tomorrow.



Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25

We walk down Rue Emile Garet to the end of Rue Emile Guichenné


John gets a béret from 
Christie and David


🌲🎄🎄

Christmas View
 

 

Readying dinner




Getting ready to feed Christie


We had a beautiful dinner,
enjoyable conversation and company
for a lovely holiday celebration


Merry Christmas to All!



🌟🌟🌟


💫Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday 💫

Just a few more days here in France.
One more blog post when we get home next Friday.
See you next week!


Sunday, December 18, 2022

Week 11 - December 11-17

 

A Week of Exploring Pau and the Road to the Coast

The Ladybug bus (Coxitis)
to explore Pau


GPS to Biarritz in a rented car
with David and Christie

Sunday, December 11

Cynthia, Christie and I meet at the Café de Europe.

We walk along the Boulevard of Pyrenees and admire the snow caps in the distance and the Fall leaves along the walkway.




We walk to Parc Beaumont where the Palace is.

Beaumont Palace
 
Friends even in the cold...
we manage to be able to sit and talk.


We end up at Christie's - the top floor with a view!



Monday, December 12

Today, Christie brings her rolling cart to shop at 
Centre Commercial Tempo
(or as Christie says, "Leclerc")
We take the "F" bus.

Waiting for the "F" bus


Santa is at the Centre!

It's raining. 
After Christie goes home, Cini and I stop at the Pharmacy for cough drops and syrup for John.


Then Cini and I go home to Rue Garet, to chat with John, nap and have Cassoulet for dinner.


Salad and Cassoulet



Tuesday, December 13

John, Cini and I go to Le Halles for coffee and croissants. 



Now we walk along the Boulevard de Pyrenees



We take the Funicular to go to the Gare.



We then find the Avis Office at the Gare
for our trip tomorrow.

Now we meet Christie at the Chateau de Pau




We need to make an appointment for a tour in English.
So we walk around the garden(s) instead of a tour of the Chateau.




---
That night we meet for dinner.

Santa's coming to town




Le Berry for dinner with everyone.


Wednesday December 14

9:30 am, we all meet at the bottom of the funicular and go to Avis to pick up the car.
We (David, Christie, Cynthia and I) are driving to Barritz and then on to San Sebastian.
(John stays home, he says he has work to do - besides he is still coughing)



We drive through Bayonne to Biarritz.
Park at the Casino.




We walk north to see the hotel



The church across from the hotel

---


 


Now on to San Sebastian...

We get rooms at the Hotel Zenit Convento San Martin



Beautiful lobby/bar

We go out for the night...



WOW!


Thursday, December 15

Breakfast at the Zenit




Now for the walk in town before we leave at noon.
Walking around San Sabastian in the daylight.
Still a WOW!




David looking at the map to see what's to see


Cervante's Square



A walk into Old Town


Everything from surfboards to produce
here in Old Town


We find a sweet Church 






On the way back to the hotel

The band stand in the main square

Waiting in the Lobby


The rest stop on the way home.
Chemin de Compostelle



A nice trip with great friends
and beautiful places to see and share.


Friday, December 16

We take the Coxitis (the Ladybug) to see the "other side" of town.




We find out there's a Circus in Place Verdun



We get off at...
St. Martin Cathedral




Now we go to Le Halles for refreshment...
at the Basque Delicatessen




Two bowls of soup ordered


After eating, we walk around




Christie goes home, Cynthia and I visit St. Jacques Cathedral


--

My walk home


It's my last night with Cynthia, 
we go to dinner with Christie and David
to Po-Nouilles




 

Gyoza

Pork Belly & Jasmine Rice












Saturday, December 17

Today, Dominique and Reynald, our "hosts" take us on a road trip...
Biarritz and St. Jean de Luz (Hendaye)

Our first stop is coffee at the rest stop...
Les Chemins de Compostelle




We get to Biarritz and park in the Casino car park.
Then walk out to view the beach.



Walk into the Village to the Miremont
for a bite to eat.


Califlower Risotto

Gateau de Basque
A tradition at the Miremont
 

A walk around to see the rest of the bay,


Reynald, Dominique, Susie & John
on top of the world







After a walk through Biarritz
We get in the car and drive along to coast.


South of St. Jean de Luz 
we approach the border town of
Hendaye



A typical Basque building
Red shutters & roof on white walls


We have a snack
before going home

The last stop on this road trip.
Hegoa Cafe

A great day getting to know some new friends
and seeing their favorite places on the coast.

---

What a week for me!
Went to Spain with Christie, David and Cynthia
Went to Biarritz twice
Made new friends with our "hosts," Dominique and Reynald
Discovered a new part of Pau