St jean de Luz

UySt Jean de Luz is very near the Spanish border, on the coast. It is an old fishing port, now a holiday town veryuch in the French style. Everything closes for lunch between 12 and 3pm, then people come out to stroll about the little cobbled streets, or sit and have coffee and watch the world go by.

There is a beautiful sandy beach and it is warm enough to swim.

There are small French children everywhere, haven't noticed any difference in the way they behave or are treated to ours! I have seen two children aged about 4 with dummies!

Yesterday we went to the lovely rolling hills that are the beginning of the Pyrrenees, just inland from here. Known as the Basque Country, the Basque people are fiercely independent, known to be fighters, having their own language and culture. I had always wanted to go there, for that reason. Well, it was a bit like driving in the Dandenongs! Beautiful countryside, nice little Basque villages, windy roads, clean, crisp air. Couldn't see the mystery I had been expecting. Lots of men wear berets, checked shirts and waistcoats.