Pourquoi Pas?
Back at the market in San Sebastian, we found ourselves at Miryam's stall, waiting to buy some Spanish cheese and boquerones. As we were about to place our order, a familiar face emerged – it was Patricio, accompanied by clients from Boston. Miryam couldn't help but chuckle, declaring it to be the day of Americans. With a playful grin, she pointed to Patricio's clients, exclaiming "Americanos," then directed her playful banter towards a man to our left, who happened to be a New Yorker turned San Sebastian local. Strangely enough, he wasn't speaking Spanish but rather Basque! Engaging in conversation, he shared a fascinating insight with us – the key to navigating any language and culture is a simple yet powerful phrase: "Why not?" According to him, by learning this phrase in any language and embracing this mantra, you open doors, gain access to places, and generally receive better treatment. Quite amusing, yet undeniably plausible. Pourquoi pas, indeed?
So, when Caroline invited me to walk up and down the stairs at the Cotes des Basques, my response was "Pourquoi pas?" And when Francesca suggested grabbing a drink while Charlie and Alfie were at basketball practice, my immediate thought was once again, "Pourquoi pas?"
It seems like this might just become my default answer to everything moving forward. It adds a touch of humor and a willingness to embrace the unexpected in every situation. Why not make life a series of "Pourquoi pas?" moments? It certainly keeps things interesting!
Chris Dowse visited us this weekend, and naturally, we packed in as much excitement as possible. Friday evening kicked off with pintxo-hopping in San Sebastian. Chris still can't stop raving about the fois gras at Bar Narikka! We then indulged in a few bites at Bar Antonio before wrapping up the night with more pintxos in the Parte Vieja. Saturday was a whirlwind of exploration in Biarritz, including wandering all over town, enjoying wine with a stunning view at Negua overlooking the Rocher de la Vierge, and savoring a seafood feast featuring oysters, shrimp, boquerones in Espelette, and sea urchins. While Luke and Emile hit the ice rink, we ventured south to stroll along the coast, taking in the breathtaking sights of Baie de Loia and les jumelles, the twins. A coastal hike, with Hendaye to the south. For our evening adventure, we ventured to Zelaia, a sidrería in Spain about 45 minutes away. 'Tis the season for sidra, and Zelaia did not disappoint. Our group of ten, including Sam and Francesca, Stacey and Bryan, Beatrice and Clyde, Asier, and of course, Chris Dowse, enjoyed an abundance of food, rare steak, and flowing sidra. It was a night to remember.
On Sunday, we celebrated Luke's 14th birthday. Gabe treated Luke and three friends to an outing at the trampoline park, where they bounced around to their heart's content. It was heartwarming to witness Luke and his friends goofing around, just being typical teenagers. Luke has a great circle of friends, and seeing them together was fantastic. Afterward, we all gathered for lunch at the Halles 5 Cantons. The camaraderie continued as we shared stories and laughter over delicious food. With only one car available, Gabe shuttled Luke and his friends back to their respective homes, while Chris, Charlie, and I decided to embrace spontaneity and exclaimed "Pourquoi pas?" to a 4.7 km walk back home. Along the way, we paused for a coffee break at Les Colonnes, soaking in the scenery of villas, the ocean, and the Sunday movement of people and cars. To cap off the day, the five of us celebrated Luke's special day with a dinner at a restaurant in the Bibi neighborhood. It was the perfect finale of a weekend filled with laughter, good company, and unforgettable memories.
