Tour de France.
Trip Start
Oct 27, 2008
1
16
17
Trip End
Jan 22, 2009
Bayonne,
Aquitaine,
France
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
in the morning we set off to check out France. Just across the border we
switched trains and arrived in Bayonne before 9:00am. We decided to have French
names for the day... so Pierre, Chloe, and I walked around town for a bit trying
to gather some maps and tourist information. The clouds seemed to dissipate as
the sun came up. As our luck would have it we stumbled upon an information
center with FREE bike rentals. Pierre (Tyler) left his passport as a deposit
and we were allotted three bright orange bikes to be returned at 6:00pm. A
one-day tour de France on bici for free!!
We peddled around town for a while and
questions the locals on how to visit the neighboring town, Biaritz. After being
pointed in the right direction we were on our way. I say 'pointed' because body
language was the only thing I picked up from an assortment of French
conversations. It worked out and we spent a couple of hours near the beach in
Biaritz. We had a picnic lunch at the top of a rock island overlooking the
ocean and the town before making our way back to Bayonne. We did a bit more
bike touring in town before we locked them up and turned in our keys. There
wasn't always a clear bike path but the bikes had held up surprisingly well
after a bit of off-roading and curb-jumping.
There was an outdoor Christmas market
along the river and we strolled through that on our way to the train station. I
have been to many markets but none of the booths seem to scream "uniquely
basque country!" And if they do seem like it they are usually pretty expensive.
So we caught the train back to Hendaia and then another train to Lasarte. Along
the way we played cards, which has become a healthy addiction. I'm going to
have to get new card playing partners when Denise and Tyler return to Cordoba.
At the station in San Sebastian we ran into my Basque grandma, Begona, and
chatted all the way home. It was nice to be amongst a language that I actually
understand at least a little. Overall it was a great day!
