Today we decided to drive, via Gernika, towards France. This was an interesting drive, as it took us into the hilly regions of the Basque Country. The terrain was different from anything we'd seen to date in Spain. We got to Gernika (Guernica) to find a bustling country town. No longer is it the Capital of the Basque Country, since the 1937 bombing — that role has since been taken over by Vitoria-Gasteiz. But there are memorials to that bombing, situated directly opposite the Tree of Gernika ('Gernikako Arbola'), an oak that has symbolized the freedom of the people of the Basque Country since the Middle Ages (and which has been replaced 4 times, the latest time in 2004, when the existing tree was declared dead). There is also a ceramic version of Picasso's 'Guernica'. We hadn't done our homework, however, and didn't find these while we were there! But at least we have visited the place and walked the streets!
We continued on, taking a road that got progressively worse and worse until, at the top of a hill we came upon a steep and narrow downgrade. We thought the better of it, returned to near Gernika and took another route that took us along the coast. This road was much like the Great Ocean Road in Victoria — winding, hairpin bends, steep cliffs down towards the sea. Altogether an interesting drive. We did decide, however, that the Spanish really don't know what to do with potentially magnificent scenery — only a few viewing points, some of whose 'views' had become totally obscured by vegetation — tall plantings of trees on the seaward side of the road, again obscuring the view (although, interestingly, many of the trees were large-leafed eucalypts!
We drove much of the day and, late in the afternoon, reached the French border. There we were greeted with about 40km of massive roadworks — but, luckily, it was all off the current road, so the traffic was not slowed.
We were driving towards an aire in the village of Peyrehorade. When we got there, we decided that a picnic spot we had just passed might be better, so we went back and parked for the night beneath the Château de Gramont at the village of Bidache, only about 5km south.
Distance driven — today, 178 miles ( 286 km ); to date, 15,564 miles ( 25,048 km )
This scenery is much more interesting. The bread roll/or whatever it is called, looked wonderful. I could almost taste it from here. The little van looked very lonely under the pines but I see there were some large rocks you could hurl at prowlers, (har,har) so I guess you were safe enough there. Your spot where they were doing the road works looked like our Southern express way, which is now being made a two way event. It was that you could only come down it in the morning and only go up it in the evening. Two ways is certainly better. A lot of the verges are like ours. trees too close to the roads for unwary or fog bound motorists. What speeds do they drive at over there? And do they wear seat belts? Nice to learn a bit more about Basque country too. I think they have had to fight for their independence over the years haven't they/ Where do they stand with it now? Found I'd got myself side-tracked and bogged down in the lit search so am resorting my head out. Went to an interesting final presentation by a PhD student in the Ca research centre today. She is investigating the use of the old herb feverfew ( as parthenolide) with low doses of radiation to reduce prostate cancers and the results so far look good. It has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties in it and goes under the name, would you believe, of bachelors buttons (it's a type of chrysanthemum), little clusters of yellow flowers.
ReplyDeleteAnyway it was a break from obese women and pregnancy. A nice salad lunch of baguettes and unsweetened OJ provided for us, plus fruit as well. Yum. Didn't quite go with the slides of black mice dissected to show various tumours the poor little sods start getting at puberty though! Walked out of the lecture room and there was my wonderful bariatric surgeon eating his lunch. Disturbed him just long enough to say Hi how are you? and went on my way, They don't get much time to themselves poor things. Nuff said. Thanks for the marvellous drive!! Love Cathy
Lovely to read your thoughts. Quickly,speeds 130/110/90/70/50 and 30 kph. The 30 is for the towns. Yes seat belts are worn.
ReplyDeleteIndependence for the Basque's ...don't seem to have a hope of Independence at the moment.
It is so good that you are doing some interesting lectures...keep the brain turning over.
Love as always
Susie and Moo
For us Cathie, the journey is as much of our holiday as the touring.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy it greatly .We are also beginning to feel very comfortable with this lovely country
Cheers
We are enjoying your blog and your amazing photos. the scenery is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour turn will come Sandy....It is fun and we are so lucky to be doing this Grande Tour !!
DeleteI don't have time to do Facebook....and little time for Hotmail just snatches here and there.
We continue to enjoy and we are glad that Warrens photos are giving pleasure to our friends Cheers