Fêtes de Bayonne

Alright, before I dive into the fun we had at the Fête de Bayonne, let me catch you up on a few things that happened this week.

First, the boys and I went down to San Sebastian for one last visit. I drove down without using navigation, parked in the garage—well, left the car with the car cleaners. We went to the market with two items to buy: Monkey sweat and Jamon Iberico. The sweetest thing happened. After Luis, at Charcuterie Yolanda, vacuum-sealed the jamon and arranged for customs without viewing the meat and labeling it, he came around the counter to give me a kiss on the cheeks. He thanked us, wished us safe travels, and said to keep in touch on WhatsApp, handing me his business card. It was so heartfelt and genuine. I was really moved, and the boys were too.

Thursday night, Stacey and Ashley arranged a farewell girls' night out with the wonderful ladies I've become friends with this year. The crew included Stacey, Ashley, Cecile, Francesca, Beatriz, Vanessa, Monika, Sandrine, and Deb. (Micci couldn't make it.) We started at Etxola Bibi, then moved to Les Bains, followed by Comptoir de Foie Gras until midnight, and ended the night at La Caveau, a nightclub on Rue Gambetta. I figured it would be small because of the name, but it was SO small. The bar area was bigger than the standing space. There were more bouncers outside the door than could fit inside. Not really, but you catch my drift. Anyway, we danced for a bit and ended a super fun night. I will miss these girls who welcomed me with open arms, dinners, surf sessions, Pilates, morning coffee, French lessons, and just being good people. I love that I met such amazing individuals this year. And it was so fun to have everyone together, as some hadn't met before tonight. Merci.

Friday, after my haircut with Johanna, the boys and I headed up to Hossegor. We spent some time shopping around, treated ourselves to delicious ice cream at Tante Jeanne, and then took the scenic route around Capbreton. As we drove, we reminisced about all the fun we had last summer while living there.

The Fête de Bayonne was an absolute blast. We went with the Sivaks, taking the bus from Biarritz to Bayonne. I love Bayonne! The entire town was decked out in a sea of red and white, with everyone sporting the traditional festival colors. We arrived to find the streets buzzing with excitement. Stalls lined the roads, offering everything from local foods and beers to handmade crafts. Most of the storefronts were boarded up since the party gets pretty wild at night and the streets become tightly packed with people. We wandered through the bustling markets, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Street performers entertained us with lively music and dance. At every corner, people were singing "Harmonie Bayonnaise," and to my surprise, Luke and Charlie knew all the words and were singing along like natives. We walked by a spot where a crowd had gathered, and we joined in the cheering and singing, feeling like a part of the community. As the day went on, we found ourselves at the heart of the festivities in the main square. Live bands played energetic music, and everyone danced together in joyful celebration. We had so much fun. I am so glad that we did this.

Now, back to packing everything up and preparing to move out on Monday!