More Basque beach life

 OK, you may all have got the picture by now, but it really was a wonderful place to visit.

Bodega 2015

We actually weren't in a Bodega mood last night, so we only went to the annual village party for about 45 minutes. Seb missed it all together by going to a movie with friends but with the music blasting till 1 a.m., he had some "fomo" when he got home...

Rocking the Basque beaches

We spent a lovely week in northern Spain - aka Basque territory - and in between the culture and the food, there were lovely beaches - surf, sand, sun, warm waters, vistas, fishing boats. Glorious!

footie-mad Olivier and Seb (just before he asked for goalie gloves)

shaking the sand out of his shorts

reading at the beach

Eating our way around the region

Spain is all about food - great quality, good prices and you can get it at almost any hour (hear that, France?)

while watching some football

in the midst of a hike

modern pintxos 

on the street

learning about chocolate

complete with a wonderful family-run shop

this big chocolate mill in a tiny Basque village

on  a mountain

standing up

Our day in San Sebastian

One of our first stops in the region was the beautiful city of San Sebastian.

With Rob, Angele and Olivier, we explored the old streets, took the funicular up the mount for glorious views and some rides at the sweet 100 year old amusement park, ate well (imagine!), and swam in the lovely bay as the sun started to go down.

We hope to come back, as it is just over 3 hours from our house.

Sophie & her dad battled it out in the bumper cars

all was forgiven when the music ended

Hiking the Basque coast

Here we are in Basque country, eating our way around the region. Good thing that there has been lots of time for body-surfing and this amazing 16 km hike. The kids made it but I had to turn back after a short way - stunning but too many hills!

he climbed down, explored this rock formation and then hauled himself up with a rope

how far can she see?

waiting for the train back

Sophie's pack of pals

Gratitude

Sophie has been blessed with a wonderful teacher during her two years at the village school. 

It seems to be a relationship full of mutual respect and affection. Mme Latour told me that as she filled out Sophie's report card last week, her eyes welled up with tears that our daughter has achieved so much and will be sorely missed.

Happy summer holidays!

Fete de l'ecole 2015

The theme for the school year has been water, so the class performances were all based on rain, sailors and beach fun.

the traditional sailor's cap from untraditional and decidedly not water-resistant crepe paper

Sophie sallies forth to be a sailor (leggy Grade 3 in a split grade class with fewer boys than girls = play the boy's role)

heave ho on the rope
(I am sure you are all supposed to work together but I distinctly saw Sophie's lips moving as she told the others what to do)

Promise yourself to a sweet lass when you return

Extra snap of the rest of the Grade 3s with LouAnne in the front

And then we all sat down for a communal meal and a disco that went on till 11:30 pm.

More wonderful visitors

Happy Canada Day to all those who are celebrating!! Here we will be celebrating with some fine friends from Vancouver and the arrival of two much-anticipated fellows from Toronto.

This might be what is awaiting your arrival, dear reader

Another trip to Chateau Bridoire and another view (with a silver grey horse, no less)

Stopping for a picnic

in some random hamlet that of course offers lovely views of stone and roof tiles

And these friends are handy with the pots and pans and gardening shears