After Leaving Bilbao we spent the next week walking the Basque Country with small guided walking tour offered by Country Walkers. The Guides were Basque natives and they were knowledgeable, informative and fun. this is a great way to take a tour.
The Basque Country, known as Euskal Herria in the Basque language, is set in the Northwest corner of Spain and the Southeast corner of France. Beautifully set in the Pyrenees Mountains, the Basque countryside offers mountain views, lush vineyards, and ancient villages. A perfect place for photography.
Basque shepherds tend their flocks in the mountains. Walking down the well worn footpaths, you often come across centuries old farm buildings. Still in great shape ans still in use after hundreds of years.
One of the real joys of walking the Pyrenees was coming upon the towns and villages of the region. The architecture, much of it dating back to the 16th, 15th and even 14th centuries, is colorful and photogenic. The people are extremely friendly and the food in the cafes is delicious.
A school in St. Jean Pied de Port, France. The school complex is surrounded by a (now) dry moat.
Another view of St. Jean Pied de Port.
Hotels like this one are common in the small villages of the Basque countryside.
This is a view of a private home. The Crosses cut into the shutters are called a Lauburu, an ancient Basque symbol. Historians still argue about the meaning and origin of the symbol.
So ends our sojourn into the Spanish/French lands of the Basque people, for now anyway. Come back next week for something completely different.
© 2010 Tim Marks all rights reserved
