Mont-de-Marsan

We’ve enjoyed wandering round this town, but it isn’t as bustling as we first thought. This is Saturday and there are so many restaurants not open, and hotels very quiet. It may partly be the season, but I guess also the plague has played a big part, as the restaurants wouldn’t have existed in the first place if people never went to them.

But though the big market hall seemed closed, we found a flourishing market in another square and had fun there and bought cheeses for the next few days, and apples and grapes. We wandered from the outside part to the undercover area and were politely told to wear masks - hadn’t noticed as outside was fine…and in the hotels and restaurants the rule is largely ignored. And we walked along the river - this is where 2 rivers join, the Douze and Midou, and they form the Midouze.

In the afternoon we went to a beautiful park, which has enormous trees - which are now starting to show autumn colours - and lots of sculptures. Very peaceful and we sat on a bench and read kindles, and watched the passing parade. One funny thing - we watched a photo shoot of a pregnant woman, with the father (presumably) posing with a pumpkin and a stuffed toy, and with autumn leaves thrown like confetti for the artistic effect by 2 children, ? theirs or the photographer’s…!! Life is lived through photos…And then when we were walking back, we saw another pregnant woman being immortalised!! Must be the latest thing.

We’ve just come back from meeting the French women Anne and Michelle and having an aperitif. Fun, but it taxes my French when I can’t find the right words. We will hopefully run into them in the next 2 days as we stay at the same towns, then they are finished and go home. I found out the spelling of the Dutch woman - Angeliek - but sadly we won’t see them again, but so enjoyed meeting them yesterday and having an aperitif with them! Dinner yesterday also was lovely, I had a delicious soup which almost totally filled me up and Amr had carpaccio of sturgeon, and for mains I had trout and he had beef tartare - just delicious. Tonight we could go to the same place, but think we will try the place next door for a change…will see what happens. Maybe we’ll get a shock and the places will be filled with diners and we’ll have trouble finding anywhere!

Tomorrow we start walking, the first of 6 days to the end…it is very cold in the mornings and I think I’ll wear my long pants and put another layer on top as it takes a while to warm up, even walking, when it’s 5 or 6 degrees. And it is getting light later and later…sunrise is after 8 now, so we don’t start till about 9. Plenty of light at the end of the day though.Read more