Day 15 Friday, 09 November Elizondo and Baztan Valley

Day 15 Friday, 09 November Elizondo and Baztan Valley

Toast and coffee at the apartment to start the day with partly sunny skies crisp temps outside. A good clear day for a drive in the valley to explore. The first village was Aspilcueta with single lane asphalt leading into the farmland. Luckily we found a turnaround at a pasture entrance and went back down to the junction of the N121B main highway. We went straight across and headed to the French boarder at Izpegi elevation 690 meters. It actually feels much higher than that because the drive is a bit hair raising (if one has hair) because of the hairpin bends and narrowness of the road! It sure seems as high a climb as up to Gorramendi. I tell you what, coming around a bend and seeing the bread delivery van coming at you with no shoulder on the road and a straight fall back down to the bottom of the valley could really make your hair curl. There were several involuntary gasps from the passenger seat which Paul ignored with great patience!

 

After a coffee and look around in the border café/shop where were once again spoken to in French, we turned around and went back down the winding road to the Baztan valley floor. Crystal clear skies and you can see for miles around today.  Just gorgeous!

Off to the Simply store for a gas up (diesel at 1.17 euros per liter. Most stations are charging 1.26 to 1.30 euros per liter of diesel. Our rental is getting tremendous mileage as 769Km for 56 liters of diesel.

After Siesta (note the importance of that is honored with capitol letters!) we met Guillermo after work at the old Bar Mendi for a drink and visit before going to spend our last evening with Asun. We had a lovely meal at Asun’s with tomatoes, white asparagus followed by her world-famous tortilla de patatas. We reminisced about other great tortillas we had. Whenever we visited the village either Asun or Amatxi Ruffina would insist on making us a tortilla to take on our trip home whether back to Madrid or one time on the ferry back to England, where we were surrounded by people asking us where we had bought the tortilla! As Asun speaks very little English our language skills were put to the test! Its ok, we managed and she knows us so well that sometimes things are understood though not spoken, its that way sometimes with great friendships.

It is our last night in Elizondo we must reload the suitcases and begin our travels again on Saturday, first stop to Zaragoza. It has been quiet, soothing and very relaxing. It is always good to return to this beautiful place with beautiful people.