Our fellow tour participants were much older on average than on our tandem trips, but most of them totally fit and definitely well-traveled. They were all retired or still-working professionals. It’s definitely different to be part of a group of 20, rather than 200. Our guides were absolutely wonderful, professional and knowledgeable in different ways and worked to their strengths. Those qualities are especially evident when they have to deal with “there’s always one” difficult traveler. At least one person was not ready for the type of walking we did and complained to me and to others that the trip was mis-advertised as “easy”; she did not find it so. She and her husband were also extremely negative about the food and the weather. It truly made me wonder whatever made them sign up in the first place. Everyone else, however, were happy, curious and hardy, all with interesting life stories.
The language fascinated me. It was much more in evidence than I expected. It’s one of the oldest languages in Western Europe, preceding the Indo-European languages with no known linguistic relatives. Everything publicly printed (street and highway signs, menus, museum labels, etc.) were all in Euskara first and then Spanish. The restrooms are almost all only labeled “Komunak” (no Spanish equivalent provided). They were easy to spot after a while. It is mandated in schools right from the kindergarten, so students grow up knowing both Euskara and Spanish. “Tx” makes a “ch” sound and is in a lot of words. Our guide was born in Hondarribia but lived until 17 in the U.S. When she returned, she was spelling her name Charo, but her friends convinced her to spell it in Euskara, so she did, although she doesn’t speak it fluently.
The food is fresh and delicious. It’s seasoned only with salt, pepper, garlic and onions to let the flavor of the main ingredients come through. We had very simple and straightforward meals to very creative and fancy ones. The pastries are exceedingly yummy.
It was a great trip. Would love to go back. It’s a big world out there.
The language fascinated me. It was much more in evidence than I expected. It’s one of the oldest languages in Western Europe, preceding the Indo-European languages with no known linguistic relatives. Everything publicly printed (street and highway signs, menus, museum labels, etc.) were all in Euskara first and then Spanish. The restrooms are almost all only labeled “Komunak” (no Spanish equivalent provided). They were easy to spot after a while. It is mandated in schools right from the kindergarten, so students grow up knowing both Euskara and Spanish. “Tx” makes a “ch” sound and is in a lot of words. Our guide was born in Hondarribia but lived until 17 in the U.S. When she returned, she was spelling her name Charo, but her friends convinced her to spell it in Euskara, so she did, although she doesn’t speak it fluently.
The food is fresh and delicious. It’s seasoned only with salt, pepper, garlic and onions to let the flavor of the main ingredients come through. We had very simple and straightforward meals to very creative and fancy ones. The pastries are exceedingly yummy.
It was a great trip. Would love to go back. It’s a big world out there.
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