Sunday, December 10, 2023

Final Days in Pau

Wake up!
 
Too much snow to go to the mountains today.
I’m not feeling too well anyway, so we stay home.

Sunday…

Felling better so we go out

Last minute shopping
for stuff today


Xmas decor going into
Place Clemenceau

Roasted Chestnuts
in a charcoal oven

Shopping at the Place

Things to take home and
Roasted Chestnuts

We have late lunch
at Les Burgers de Papa



The walk home

***

Today, we wait for “Send My Bag”
It has clothes we don’t need for the last couple of days 
and other stuff we don’t want to take on the plane.



And I try to finish my painting of the Church in Bizanos - Eglise de Saint Magne





***


Our last full day…

We clean the apartment…somewhat

And go out to take Christie and David to lunch

First to their apartment



Looking like Christmas

We have lunch at Greedy, Christie goes 
to her private French class.

David promised to take me on the Ferris Wheel

We go through the Place


Getting ready to take photos

There’s John

The Blvd de Aragon
to Place Clemenceau

We’re at the top of the wheel…




Gare de Pau

Almost back on the ground


We say our good bye to David

On our way home
We check out the “Tree”

Our Pau home
(On the 5th floor)


***

It’s Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Time to go home to Sierra Madre, California

Patrick gives us a ride to the airport

Checking in our luggage

Our last photo in Pau

Loading onto the plane for Paris
saying good-bye to the Pyrenees

***


After a 3.5 hour layover in Paris
and a 2 hour layover in Calgary, 
it’s been 22 hours traveling…

Los Angeles is in sight!





We land at LAX, grab a taxi
and get home by 11 pm.
In bed by midnight

***

Thursday, December 7, 2023
Good Morning!
367 W. Highland Ave.
Sierra Madre, California


It’s good to be home!


Saturday, December 2, 2023

Getting ready to leave and the last adventures of this trip…

 A day trip to another town…

OLORON - STE MARIE

We take the train from Pau…


We cross the River Ousse


What we see on the way


We arrive in Oloron Ste. Marie

Map of City

From the train station…



We make a wrong turn, but find the Cathedral Ste Marie



Then to the Visiters’ Center 

Tourist Office of Oloron Ste Marie


Now we go towards the Lindt Boutique and Factory…


It’s crowded, so we get our sample
and start back to the Gare



Gare de Oloron


Back across the Ousse

We take the Funicular from the train station
up to the Boulevard for home

***

the next few days are uneventful, but still 
photographically engaging.

Leaves in a puddle of rain

Statue of Maréchal Foch

Chappell des Reparatrices

On Stade Nautique…
almost home

I want to live in this chateau.

-*-

We talk to Anthony before he leaves for Japan…
AGAIN




***

Patrick and François come to us


We have a lively conversation in broken French and English.
We have Empanadas and wine

Yummy!
Best we’ve had since
we were in South America

They offer to take us to the mountains next Saturday. 
We gladly accept.


***

Christie and David invite us (& Clive) to dinner
at Gueuleton



Clive, Christie, David, John and Susie

***

It’s Friday morning, my nose is running, 
going through lots of Kleenex.
I stay home all day.
Christie comes by for a visit.
John does the laundry.
We cancel our trip for Saturday with 
Patrick and François

***

Now we wait for me to feel better to enjoy 
Pau for the next few days.

Snow covered Pyrenees!