Trying the French roads

We've just returned from a lovely visit to friends who live about an hour and a half from Saint Jean Pied de Port, three days walk if you're a pilgrim. Eddie and Les were great friends in school, and reconnected by email a few years ago and in person last year. They were our first pilgrim stop when we walked the camino in 2013. So, we've spent three full days laughing, catching up, and Eddie and Irene sharing tips with us, on how the French do things, and eating the most wonderful food. We are now realizing the joys of long lunches and easy conversation, followed by a small snack in the evening. Certainly you sleep better.

Here is the view from our bedroom window towards the Pyrenees. And no, that is not the beginnings of a garden being planned. That's the result of the local boar, who comes to rip up lawns and gardens with his snout.

Our last lunch with Irene and Eddie. Cava and some tapenade in the sun.....November 12th.

Followed by chaud chèvre avec miel, below, and then skewers of shrimp, scallops and salmon. Yum!!

And on Thursday morning, it was time to say goodbye. So we packed the car, took our gifts of eggs, and Carrefour tuna and headed to Foix, to a famous Chateau and Abbey. Both lived up to expectations. We took a room at the Hotel Lons and below is the view from the room about 2pm.

And this is the view from the bridge back to our hotel. You can see the dining room, lit up a bit, and our room is just above it.

Dinner started with the local Ariège salad, which included hot gizzards. I've never seen that on a menu, but it was delicious!

And I had the salmon, topped with breadcrumbs and chorizo with a lovely pile of creamed leeks.

Isn't eating fun????