Christmas Day – Dinan

A distinct lack of bells meant we all slept in until nearly 9am on Christmas morning, whereupon Hamish discovered Santa had managed to track him down. Christmas Day was a low key, but very enjoyable day. We followed our traditional breakfast (ham on toast) with roast chicken for lunch. Sweet French delicacies followed.

As per usual, the post lunch Christmas walk was necessary. However, we found ourselves in the gorgeous winter sunshine down by the port of Dinan. This is a totally different Christmas to one we could ever experience in Australia due to: A – the weather (it’s not 42 degrees) B – the tranquil surrounding of the typical French countryside and port area, and C – the fact that it’s just the three of us. There’s something to be said about escaping the harsh Australian summer for a Christmas in Europe.

The return trip to our apartment finds us scrambling up le rocket street (an incline to be reckoned with) and discovering a more modern part of Dinan.

Boxing Day – Dinan to Bayonne

We set off on our 3-day road trip early Boxing Day morning, with eggs and bacon in our bellies. It was an easy 6 hour drive, with plenty of tolls to chip away at our euros. We are pleasantly surprised with the city of Bayonne – Belinda has pre-empted us with “It’s not a fancy hotel or anything” and “Don’t expect too much”. We find a park easily; the room is clean and spacious, and we walk across the bridge of the rivers Nive and Adour to a Christmas market in full swing.

We go on the ferris wheel, eat churros and find a Thai restaurant for dinner.

 

Asian is high on the food agenda in our family, so we were very excited to have some pad thai, fried rice and beef stir fry.

A note here about dogs. Dogs are largely indoor animals here in Europe, as there’s not much yard space. Thus, people take them wherever they go: on the tram, to the supermarket, out to dinner, ON THE FERRIS WHEEL! (We couldn’t imagine having taken Livy-girl on the ferris wheel)

 

Day after Boxing Day – Bayonne (France) to Burgos (Spain)

Our hotel has a continental breakfast; Hamish is super excited to have hot chocolate from the automatic machine. He also finds other sugar-laden breakfast treats which we try and mitigate with the suggestion of fruit and yoghurt. He’s loving it.

It’s only a short drive from Bayonne to Burgos, but Belinda has planned to break the trip up with a stop over (and walk) at the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This is a religious site, made famous by the Game of Thrones series (it’s Daenerys Targaryen’s Dragonstone). It’s a serious uphill/downhill trek.

Rod tags out at the start of the section over the ocean (due to acrophobia), but Belinda and Hamish go on. It’s worth the 240-odd steps for the views alone. The entire walk is loaded with people and dogs. There’s a broad range of people sporting various fitness levels and dress codes (mini-skirts, heels) – ages range from babies in back packs to Grandma’s requiring assistance from younger family members. Luckily Belinda didn’t have to resuscitate anyone; she would have had to resuscitate herself first!

Once recovered, watered and fed, we hit the road for Burgos, our first night in Spain. Our accommodation is smack in the middle of the old town, but we find it easily along with the car park (car parking is still one of our major dramas). For an extra 20 E, we pay for a two-room suite with a super view of Burgos’ immense Cathedral.

We unpack and head outdoors for a look around. We are pleasantly surprised with the beauty of the city. A chocholaterie is found and we have afternoon tea; the waiter thinks Belinda is English “The tea is not what you’re used to in England…”

We are unable to readily get dinner, since “the kitchens are closed” (despite overt signs advertising their restaurants). We later read that restaurants do not tend to open in Spain until at least 8 pm. We find a pizza place that clearly caters for people more used to eating at dinner time, advertising itself (in English) as an all-day eatery. Belinda and Hamish get their pizzas promptly, but they (twice) forget to cook Rod’s. Three (small, cheap) wines and 40 minutes later, his pizza arrives. All’s well that ends well.

December 28 – Burgos (Spain) to Porto (Portugal)

Possibly due to the fact that everyone eats late in Spain, we are kept awake by people (having a great time, most likely) out and about until midnight. We have another hotel breakfast. Hamish has found his chocolate mecca: hot chocolate, coco-pops, chocolate cake, chocolate doughnut. He also has a croissant with jam and a kiwi fruit (because Belinda insists).

We follow the snow-capped mountains (Cantabrian Mountains) west, until we head south, then west again, until we reach Porto. We have been travelling in the lofty ranges of about 1000m above sea level: often above the clouds, but it’s a sweet 14 degrees for most of the trip.

It’s 21 degrees when we arrive in the port-side suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia. Our apartment is the top floor and has amazing views over the Duoro river and down to the Dom Luis I bridge. We are staying here for one week and are really looking forward to having a bit of down time, as well as exploring some of the local delights.

 

As we write this, two loads of washing have been done, dinner tonight was cooked and eaten (salmon and vegetables – no more chocolate!!) soup made for tomorrow and everything unpacked. Phew! What a full three days we’ve had since leaving Dinan; but we’re all talking to each other, Hamish continues to be a trooper and Rod and I are still happily married. Can’t ask for more than that.