Saturday moring in St. Giron is "MARKET DAY!!". . . We are thrilled and this one does not disappoint! All of south-central France shows up to show, sell and shop. What a day! This is truly one of the best things we love about France. All of the Little French people come rushing out of their houses with their straw market baskets to shop for the day, the week or the year and they do have the best time. This one was really great because we are almost certain we are the only aliens. Everyone else is uniquely French and loving it. No showing off for tourists, just The French being French. As this town is near the border with Spain and near the mountains (Pyrennes) and has shreds of Catalan and Basque culture it is abit raucous, rude, dirty, rustic and earthy. We love it! There are shades of 1960s hippie culture as well as a healthy dose of Agriculture culture. As with most of these markets they are selling EVERYTHING. Meat parts are the most entertaining. Rabbits are skinned right down to their head, Including the head, (Eyeballs intact) gutted and left out in the open with its head stll on and its liver still attached. Whatever you do, DON'T cut the liver off, it will make great rabbit liver stew! Chickens are served up the same way plucked and gutted with the feet, head, beak, comb and all, still attached. It looks rather freaky. In one basket are the live rabbits for those who want to dress their own. I could go on forever about the wonders of Market day, but the best part was saved for last. Paula made a fatal error and allowed Duane to walk past the Pikolino stall one too many times. Just like a magnet, Duane is sucked in and before long discovers that he is a perfect size 43. A new pair of Pikolinos will accompany Duane home!! Hurray for Leather shoes from Spain!!
We rush back to meet our checkout time, discover what Duane's single Malt Scotch cost, faint and hurry on to the west coast. On the way we drive through some of the most beautiful farm country on the planet. Green, green, green, semi mountainous, full of trees, grass, wheat, corn, cows, sheep, horses, ducks, geese and assorted goats, rabbits and lambs. Just gorgeous! We discover once again that one can get lost and not really care all that much. . . . you eventually come out the other end. As we enter Basque country we notice a Big change in architecture and the overall neatness of things. Here is the way Duane believes this all happened. . . . . The Mayor of this part of France (Pyrennes Antiquaine) woke up one day and noticed he had WAY TOO much White and Maroon paint from a recent repainting project. So he decides to buy even more white and maroon paint and then he sends out a Mayoral Notice suggesting, in his most pursausive manner, that everyone ought to consider painting their house White with Maroon trim. Everyone considers this and shortly a loud cry goes up from the goodly people of the Pyrennes Antiquaine . . . . . "COOL!!". . . . . And so they did! I kid you not. . . . . . Every house, barn, side building, office, school, post office and fire station is soon painted White with Maroon Trim. It is Stunning!! We did see one outlaw who trimmed his house in blue, but I think they stoned him. We approve!
Arrival (Eventually) in St Jean de Luz is quick, cool and efficient. Thanks to Paula's internet skills, we find a suitable hotel within minutes and settle in. This is a great beach town complete with beach, surf, sand and way too many people. But despite all that we walk all over, get lost, buy chocolate ($10.50 for a small basket full of chocolate balls) and make it back in time to Skype with Piper. A nearly perfect day (Including getting lost several times.)