Friday. June 7, 2024 Before and Beginning the RSE tour of Basque Country

 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 receipt of the dried and roasted a evaluated coco beans to packaging the variety of chocolates percentage of  chocolate to  nuts and seeds a d decorations. I am amazed at the complexity and variety of machinery used processing the beans and the number of people involved. No, we purchased no chocolates. 

  The number 4 bus brought us back to the city center.  We walked to the crepe Cafe suggested by RSE, sat outside and enjoyed savory crepes.  The fillings and green salad were served in the energy of the buckwheat crepe. The presentation was different; the taste was very good. On our way to the hotel we visited the cathedral  nearby.  Honoring Mary it is a very tall Gothic structure with stunningly beautiful stained glass windows, paintings depicting the life of Jesus, wooden, moveable pews, the pulpit set high on a stone pillar in the center of the congregation. Organ pipes are located in the balcony, and money is sought to repair the instrument. 

  On our walk back to the hotel through narrow pedestrian streets and stores to meet any need we stopped at a nail shop to inquire if they gave leg massages. YES, Premilla has an appointment during our free time e tomorrow, and YES, we visited a pharmacy for her to purchase pain relief gel. The afternoon she spent massaging the gel into her cream and then resting. I rested, blogging. 

  Our first gathering with our guide, Augustin, was very good.  He covered a lot of topics and gave us 15 minutes to socialize with the new buddies we were asked to choose. Mary Lou is my buddy and she lives in Canade near Toronto. We were offered wine and water and potato chips  at the even i had water. After a brief break we  met outside the hotel  with our new, listening devices called Whispers, and began a brief walling orientation tour e route to our supper. Locations of important services, banks and pharmacies and bus and railway stations  as well as restaurants and places which we might wish to visit tomorrow. 

  Our supper was traditional Basque food - a greensalad with two large pieces of cheese and a thin slice of ham followed by the entre of hake, a local fish which was delicious and a piece of thick cake and sauce from local cherry.   Wine tonight was complimentary. The aperative was a small glass of sangria.  I consumed mine and those of three others!

  Som after talking with our new friends we walked back to the hotel. Premilla and I discussed changing our plans for tomorrow. J met an AFS couple and began coversations with teachers and a school librarian. I look forward to more conversations with members of our group. 

  Gute Nacht 

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