Susan's Stories

 Premilla and I rose in time to spendsome time with a few group members before they departed.  With others we lingered over breakfast and then in the hotel lobby whole they awaited their taxis. Transitions are not easy; thank goodness  I have experienced several in my life.   Premilla and I rode the funicular with Leo and Bonnie. At the lovely park high above the city we had a clear view of the city. The view was spectacular. When we returned Premilla stated she wished to lie down, that her stomach was upset, that she just wanted to sleep.   So I took the tram with Leo and Bonnie to the historic and renovated public market. The building is historic and the three floors show the old stained glass windows.  We went to the food court which was filled. Leo found a table and chairs while Bonnie and I purchased tapas and beverages.  We were joined by tourists from Belgium.  Our conversations were lively and happy as we enjoyed our food and I the glass i...

   Agustin led our group of fourteen walking to the Guggenheim Museum. As we walked he talked to us about the city and its history. At the museum we met our guide who spoke of the history of the building and walked us around the exhibitions beginning on the main floor. That exhibit hall is huge and contains s fall and heavy pieces of metal in designs through which we walked. The metal pieces were either straight and curved or concave orconvex or all three. It felt like walking g a maze as well as a labyrinth. Other floors e hibited modern art some painting and some three dimensional. The building itself was fascinating,  as well a d it brought it light from outside which very changeable as the day changed from warm and sunny to cool and windy and rainy.   After lunch at a nearby cafe with Premilla and Dan and Kelly  I returned to the museum to walk all the metal curving structures. It was both peaceful as well as a bit dizzying. I also watched a film about the i...

 I had spent some time yesterday afternoon after the rain cleared and before we joined a group for dinner - walking  along the river and bay watching people, families, couples,  people in conversation,  and people out gor the exercise.  I also paid attention to the waves crashing against the rocks. I had time thus morning  for a bit more walking and listening to the waves crash against the rocks. The day was sunny and warmth was beginning   We drove along the bay to the small fishing village, Getaria. Its boats bring in hundreds of pounds of local fish for processing  and selling. We walked down to the harbor where we saw many fishing boats. Workers af the harbor were busy, and the narrow and  cobblestone pedestrian- only streets felt as though they were fron a different time. It was a quiet and peaceful visit.   We drove next to Gernika, a city  made known to the world by Picasso 's painting which depicts the horrific bombing by th...

   From the beginning of the day to the end Premilla was warmly congratulated on her birthday. Following  breakfast Augustin led us on a morning walk through the old town.  This is a beautiful city. We walked through the old town as the rain began. Narrow pedestrian streets with some buildings several centuries old - shops on the ground floor and flats with balconies and flower boxes. Interesting are numbers printed, large on the flats which face the central square where bullfighting used to take place and now shows are performed. Anyone may purchase a ticket for the balcony, including the owner or renter of the flat.   I had lunch at the Basque History Museum with Bonnie and Leo before we visited the museum. I still have questions about the language, but I learned that the dictator Franco suppressed their desires for some separate identity from Spain.  I had already learned that Augustin's ten year old son is learning Basque from his parents as well as at ...

 We made it to the breakfast room in Pamploma before the large number of other guests arrived. That meant a good start to the day.  Javier drove us to the top of hill 4000 feet, to Perdon, the location emphasizing  forgiveness. There were also large stones symbolizing the silence the Basque people was imposed on them during the Franco regieme. The distant wheat fields and trees and grass were a colorful contrast in the distance,start to the day. At that .location also were large metal images of pilgrims, for we were on the Camino. Half of our group left walking down the steep trail, over loose stones to the next stop. The rest of us rode with the bus. Augustin had asked several of us of us not to take that portion of the trail.  I respected his advice, and no one had an accident. We walked on level trail and met a chatted with a few.pilgrims. One young woman from South Korea was walking  alone. I had really very good  conversations with a couple members of ...

 The breakfast room was  VERY crowded,  conversations noisey.  Nevertheless we managed.  Francisco met us and began our walking a d history tour of Spain and this part of the world before it became Spain. Humor and laughter were liberally sprinkled into the stories, and that kept our attention. We spent time in the cathedral, which he  called ABC another beautiful  cathedral, not another blasted cathedral.  Graves of rulers of this state of Navarra, a striking and controversial crucifix, Roman ruins, and beautiful and noteworthy cloister, as well as rooms offering symbolic experience of light and dark, and personal reflection made this visit a very memorable one.   We next visited the home of a woman who with her husband now deceased have collected everything possible about bull fighting and the running of the bulls, a nine day even beginning July 7 to celebrate the festival of Fermin, a person killed because of his religion and who now is re...

 Our green and white bus and driver, Alancha, met us at 9am and helped us pack our baggage. It was cloudy and cool, but it wasn't raining. Augustin told us our schedule, and talked about the Camino. At our first stop at St Jean  Pied de Port, traditional starting point for pilgrims who walk the Camino.  Augustin  took us on a walk through the narrow cobblestone streets and pointed out signs on the road, at the road, and on doors of dwellings, all helpful to pilgrims.  On one door was a sign indicating they were full.We took timeto savor the welcoming atmosphere.   Alancha  had a touch drive today, driving  mainly hairpin turns as we climbed the Pyrenees, about four thousand feet on today’s drive. At our next stop we had the option to walk about 2 miles with Augustin to the third stop for lunch. It was a beautiful walk mainly through woods. We talked as we walked, especially about people who make this pilgrimage. We learned this one of the most pop...

   The day began overcast and warm; I therefore removed a sweater and long-sleeve shirt for our three and a half walking tour led by Laura,our local guide, through the part of the city. She showed us maps and described the people who lived in this part of the world before the Christian Era. Noteworthy to me was information that this was a matriarchy. At marriage a man took his wife's surname and moved into her home. Originally pagans they were Christianized. The cathedral in  Bayonne was first built in Romanesque style. After burning it was rebuilt in Gothic style. Women worshipped on the main floor; men were required to worship from the balcony. So far, I liked that. Homes were painted white with red trim to honor a bishop who was decapitated and thereafter considered holy a d was painted. The Museum of Basque History displayed heavy-appearing wooden furnishings and paintings and useful household tools.    I forgot to write that three if us visited the local fa...

 Premilla awakened me, for I had slept through the alarm. Learning  the shower controls and grateful for clean clothes we had an early breakfast buffet of fruit and ham, scrambled eggs,  cheese, bread,  coffee au lait and hot chocolate. Premilla received detailed directions to reach the  Museum of Chocolate. We took the bus and enjoyed the scenery - bridge, river,large historic buildings as well as local people beginning their day   We arrived early at the museum and had time to plan the rest of the day until our 5pm initial tour gathering.  The chocolate museum is located in an industrial part of the city. The visit began with a tasting experience of a variety of chocolates produced at the museum workshop. I had a out six pleasant tastes and one bitter taste. The museum displays were set in a tropical setting. I am amazed at all the steps needed,  from harvesting to shipping of the packaged products. We watched workers taking the steps from recei...

 Reflecting on a night's sleep after traveling with Premilla from Los Angeles  to Bayonne, France, all in all it went smoothly, we are healthy and safe and ready to meet our fellow travelers later today, Friday,  June 7.   Wednesday,  June 5, at 6am, Karin brought me to Union Station in downtown LA. Thank goodness she could return home before rush hour traffic and get a bit more sleep before putting in a full day's work. The Flyaway bus brought me to LAX where I checked my carry-on on a  computer in newly refurbished terminal. A very warm welcome from the gentleman at the counter assured me 100% that my suitcase would make the transfer to the plane to Paris followed by the plane to Biarritz, France. Premilla had told me that she would carry her suitcase to all three flights, an then she changed her mind and decided to check her bag, hoping she would meet it again in Biarritz. She arrived via the Flyaway bus from Van Nuys. I am grateful that Karin didn't bri...