We said our goodbyes to David and Sundara and headed off from Ventenac to the Basque, 425km drive, we decided to go via the tolls and wow can you eat of the km's on these autoroutes, cruising along at 130km it wasn't long before we had cruised past Toulouse and was 1/2 way there. Pau was a stopping point to check out the city as we had been told it was really nice. Now before you all call it Pau it is pronounced PO and that's not poo either. Pau is located at the foot of the Pyrenees and this is the birthplace of Henry IV a land of history, gastronomy, wine, sports and culture.   

Pascal was a little stir crazy from sitting in the car wanted photo shoots. The architecture here in the Pyrenees is really different to the south of France, it is close to ski slopes and really had the feeling of a ski town.

We arrived into Bayonne in the mighty Basque, we are about to find out just how passionate people here of their region. Not knowing what to expect.... we were amazed by the city, our friends Melanie & Vincent whom we met at a Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai in 2012 had invited us to stay with them the next time we came to France...... Funny this time we had decided to take up this offer and the welcome from them was unbelievable. We actually have Facebook to thank for us being able to keep in contact with so many great people we meet. They have a 2 bedroom apartment right in the center of the city where it is all walking streets. We had a fantastic evening with them and their friends, champagne, homemade pizza, a delicious meal, wine from Ananise's fathers vineyard - it was exceptional, oh and of course CHEESE - the best of France from THEIR region!!!!  Francois & Ananise are coming to New Zealand in December for 3 weeks so I was able to advise them on some great things to do and hopefully they will come to the Hawkes Bay and visit us. Another late night!!