In France

We spent a relaxing two days in the countryside outside Pamplona and didn’t see a single bull to run away from. The place happened to be where Francis Jabier/Xavier (say Har -bee-a) was born in the castle outside our room, so perhaps some of the Xavier school teachers on their “pilgrimage” had been there too.

Having a castle outside your window is no big deal as there seems to be one in every town which are just a few minutes apart from each other in these parts.

I must have needed a rest as had a nap each afternoon we were there after lazing on the bed watching the Tour in Spanish. This area happened to be in Julie’s Spanish Drives book so were able to take some lazy drives into the mountains to test the lower slopes of the Pyrenees. We drove and walked through some spectacular gorges where the main form of bird life appears to be vultures. Luckily there is some life left in us still so we left them to pick over other bones. Of course, we visited a monastery and took a tour with a Spanish speaking guide.

We left Spain this afternoon via a tunnel under a Pyrenees’ mountain and arrived in France to Saint Lary Soulan where stage 9 of the tour is tomorrow. We entered the town along a typical mountain road with switchbacks down into the valley. I pity those riders tomorrow.Barricades and directional signs are up in the town and it appears to be quite busy.

On arrival, we sat in the lounge of the hotel and enjoyed a beer, yes Sharon had another one, and watched the Tour on French TV with a room full of French men. Some were taking notes and following the route on maps and, “Oui Ouing!” when the helicopter shot showed a village they knew or had ridden through. One had just come in from a ride and was dressed in BMC cycling kit. As he cooled down, he kept stripping off his gear and with each layer peeled he kept looking around at Sharon. He looked pretty fit so I sucked my Spanish wine belly in the best I could until my breath gave out. He pulled the shoulder straps down from his nicks and looked across at her again and I did the same to see if I’d have to flex my pecks. Here were two grown men, one in tight lycra, the other in baggy shorts and t-shirt trying to compete for a woman texting on an ipad. We both had no hope. She hadn’t seen a thing!

Our room has a good view of the mountains. It is warm here today, 29 degrees. The hotel owner said they had snow in the village till May so he was happy for the warmth and so are we. At 8:30 pm, we were lounging in the room when we received a call from the restaurant (we had dinner included as a part of our stay) to ask if we were going to eat. As it was well before our Spanish dinner time of 9:30 -10:00, we were taking our time and when we got down 5 minutes later, most were finishing up.  At least these times will get us back in fashion for when we get home. We put spoons down at dinner in Javier two nights ago at 11:00.