home and drying

Sunday 13 and Monday 14 September

Farewell to France


This was our final meal at the brilliant little pizza cafe in Penestin on our last night

and then on Monday morning it was back to the lovely Vannes for the last time (ahhhh...)

to catch our TGV to Paris

and in just over 4 hours there we were, having crossed Paris and at a bustling Gare Du Nord ready for the Eurostar

and by Tuesday morning - the entire contents of our suitcases was merrily blowing in the wind

Ahhhh - home, drying and reminiscing . . . . 

And if you wonder what this is all about and missed the start of this fabulous adventure, then just click here to get the beginning of the holiday

Au revoir one and all . . .  hasta la vista!

oooo la la

Saturday 12 September

and to prove it - we're back in France!

and an excursion to the beautiful walled town of Vannes

This was also the day we heard that Jeremy Corbyn had been elected as leader of the Labour Party by a landslide vote - was this boat put there in celebration!!

we were just in time for the tail end of a colourful market day

And finally we enjoyed a 4 course feast at a proper roadside Les Routiers - with wine and all for €15 each!  Read all about La Corne De Cerf at Arzal

A perfect last night and a perfect holiday

But there's still the journey home ..... read all about it here

Or if you'd rather start at the beginning of the holiday, then click here

dancing in the street

Friday 11 September

Hondarrubia, Espana


Well there we were, resigned to the leaving of San Sebastian and a long 8 1/2 hour return drive to Penestin with the sun scorching down.  But . . . we found this gem of a town, Hondarrubia, just before leaving France and stopped for lunch - right at the tail end of their annual festival!

Great Alpine type houses and cafes (well Pyrenean type really I suppose - ha ha) - and so strange, but so beautiful, right next to the sea.  You can even spot an open air escalator right in the middle of the town!!! Amazing!!

There were loads of flags out for the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

I found this out about the festival:

The main festivity of Hondarribia takes place between the 7th and the 11th of September in honour to the patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe.The biggest celebration within the festivity is called the "Alarde" which occurs on September 8th. The Alarde is a military procession held to celebrate the vows made to the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1639 in gratitude for breaking the siege imposed on the town by French troops.However, the Alarde is just one of many activities taking place during those five days in Hondarribia, since there are also concerts, Basque dance, Basque sport exhibitions, activities for children and much more.

We discovered there was going to be dancing in one of the squares that evening for the final night of the fiesta and it was a hard to draw ourselves away . . .

and all this so close to France - that's Biarritz just across the estuary!  

MUST return here some day for a longer stay.

And now you can read about our weekend back in France - just click here.

Or if you'd rather start at the beginning of the holiday, then click here

to market, to market

Sunday 6 September 2015

Dare I say it  -  more sun!!

Aboard the bikes again for Penestin market in the morning

 stopping for cafe au lait of course!!

 Then an afternoon spin up the coast to the lovely Piriac sur Mer

 where I found some fabulous shells

Did an early evening venture further up the coast to La Turballe for some serious people watching and we were just in time to see the last of the Penestin sun before packing for our Spanish adventure the next day  . . .

and if you want to see what San Sebastian was like - start reading here

Or if you'd rather start this adventure at the beginning, then go back to here

bikes and bats

Saturday 5 September 2015

Our second day in France - and idyllic it was too!  Especially with our beautiful friend Beau keeping his eye on us

Started with a cycle along the coast to the lovely Le Bateau Livre bookshop/cafe in the old part of Pénestin

Just love this place - a brilliant combination, good books, good food, friendly welcome and rather special coffee

 and an Aladin's cave inside

 but it was onwards and upwards on the bikes

 to downtown Pénestin to shop for fresh provisions

 before settling back in the garden

 for a table tennis tournament

 and a final walk by the sea

followed by after dinner very competitive whist!!

Bliss . . .

And if you want to read on to the next day of our adventures in France and Northern Spain, then click here for Sunday ...

But if you'd rather start at the beginning of the holiday, then click here