It is only 6.30PM and we have
finally come back to the apartment after a day filled with fun! We met Dave and
Joyce at about 11 AM after watching the sheep, cows and horses walking down the
main street of Elizondo on their way to the Feria. They don’t know it, but they
are for sale! (the animals I mean)
What can I say about today, so
far? The town is packed with people and animals. Our first bit of fun was
watching people trying to find a parking place! Lots of French have come over
for the Fiesta and they are parked everywhere. We will not be moving the car
today! The whole town is filled with stalls of food, drink, clothes, toys,
shoes, jewelry , bags, purses, you name it, you can buy it here today, even
farm equipment, horses, cows and sheep! The sun is shining, the temperature is
rising and Paul and I did not make a reservation for lunch! Hai! Que vamos
hacer? That’s later though.
We venture into the crowds and
wander around a bit, we lost Dave and Joyce and found them later. We saw the
young man who fixed our tire yesterday, Belen and Carlos’ three kids, all
separate of course, Guillermo and his son and a host of others! How did we find
them in that crowd? Lol.
I bought a sweater, Paul bought
me some fleecy socks to keep in the car. (these damn feet!) and we said goodbye
to Dave and Joyce who are heading off to another valley for a couple of days. I
will miss them; we have had fun together and it was great catching up with
them. Have a good trip guys!
We wander up toward our old
apartment and headed back towards the Posada to see if we could get something
to eat. Actually we could have eaten en la calle, there was a huge grill
cooking chicken, ribs and pulpo galician style, (octopus) but we pressed on. We
stopped to commune with the animals and watch them being loaded onto the big
trucks on their way to their new homes (or wherever they were going, I didn’t
want to ask!) Some fine-looking beasts
there! That was quite a process.
At the Posada we asked Carlos if he could
squeeze us in but even though we are old friends, there was no way now, but
maybe later? So we went outside to sit in the glorious sunshine to drink wine
and wait. We met this delightful couple from Madrid and whiled away and hour so
talking about Spain, food and family. Very nice couple, Beatriz and Fernando.
They had never been in the Batzan before and were totally enchanted with it,
today. The were staying in Bilbao tonight and were thinking a run thru France
and back thru Behobia and San Sebastian
before the short drive to Bilbao will be a different change. However now having
seen the Baztan the people and great food they certainly will return, again!!
We got in to eat at 3.30. I told
Carlos he was my new favorite son and he laughed at that. (don’t worry Ian you
are my all time favorite) We had a fabulous meal, salad, soup, fish, solomillo,
dessert, wine, water and a copa de hierbas to finish.(that’s a liqueur) So we
didn’t finish until about 5.30! The place was packed with families, Belen,
Carlos and their staff were run off their feet but it was all very pleasant and
unhurried.
What shall we do tonight? I dont
know! Vamos a ver! We shall see!
Now at 8:00PM it was time to
wander back into Elizondo to see what was left of the stalls and fiesta
trappings. Most stalls were covered in plastic for the night but still a few
remained open for business. The Main road through town remains blocked off for
traffic but people were still milling around to make their last minute
purchases. We walked around to find bar
which was not crowded Good Luck there. We bumped into Guerillmo Quertier in the
Photo Mena shop looking at a group photo of the young boys of Elizondo in which
Guerillmo was standing in the last row and the only one not in his football
jersey like the other boys all at age 12 or so. That caused a laugh or two.
After some refreshment we went back to the main plaza where a barbecue stall
and tables were setup. Paul got an order of bebecue chicken to go for back at
the apartment (10 euors) he said it was very good and all pieces were very
moist having been on the barbieQ for such a long time!! An early night we were
home by 1000PM for a change. A little TV and then bedtime.
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