San Jean Pied de Port!

Another weekend full of food and fun has passed. We are currently in the middle of restaurant week in San Sebastián. This involves certain restaurants offering a price fix menu for 25 euro. Some friends and I decided to take advantage since it is the only chance we had to eat at an expensive restaurant without breaking the bank! We had a 5-course meal, which also included wine and coffee. The first course was ham croquettes followed by a salad of cod and spider crab and, later, seafood paella. The main course was squid with an apple compote and balsamic reduction. Dessert was the Basque version of French toast with Bulgarian yogurt ice cream. Three hours and 5 courses later, I would definitely say it was worth the 25 euro! 

                                                                          Squid!

On Sunday I learned a very important lesson, people from central Indiana aren’t meant to be on winding European roads (although it was worth every second)! Lurdes and Kepa took me on a Basque adventure through the interior of the Basque Country (the Pyrenees). We drove and drove and drove some more and were surrounded by beautiful countryside and little villages. We stopped occasionally for coffee, a pintxo or for me to get some air (yes, I was that person). For lunch we strolled over to France and into the beautiful town of San Jean Pied de Port. It was deserted being it was a Sunday afternoon, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying a French lunch and exploring the city. On our way back home, we stopped to visit a friend of Lurdes. Her friend and husband built a new house in a tiny village. The house was amazing and definitely not your typical Basque home. Looking at it from the outside it looked old, but inside was quite modern. From the living room you could hear the bells from the necks of the donkeys outside the windows. It was surreal and so peaceful!

                                             A view of the countryside when we stopped for a pintxo!

                Horses on the side of the road in the province of Navarra. Kepa told me I was on a safari!

                                                         San Jean Pied de Port, France

                                   A view of San Jean Pied de Port from an abandoned fort. 

I also got to visit the Caserío (farm house) that Lurdes grew up in. It has been in the family for generations. Her dad was born on the property. I got to see all of the cows and sheep, which made dinner interesting tonight. We had meet from the caserío, aka the cute little cows I met the other day. It is never a dull moment in the culinary world here. Lurdes’s brother also showed me some of the traditional Basque farm instruments. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  

                                   A well known bridge in Lurdes's hometown.

This will be my last blog for a few weeks. We have Spring Break starting at the end of this week. I am headed to Madrid and an undecided location with my aunt! Then I am headed to London to visit friends! I am sure I will have lots to report when I get back. Hope everyone is doing well!

Besos,

Erin