Pau

Monday 24 June - Monday 1 July : Exchange in Pau, France
What a wonderful week! The Friendship Force of Pau was a vibrant warm and friendly group of members who welcomed us with open arms - the first Australian group to visit them!  Each day was filled with social activity and much eating!
We arrived after lunch on the Monday, and were escorted to the homes of our hosts, and then some orientation of our surrounds.  In the evening we attended a Welcome Dinner at a typical Bearnais farm house restaurant, culminating with Bomb Alaska (known as Norwegian Omelette in France!!)
On Tuesday we visited the Palace of Pau and learned all about Henry IV - quite a man! - before moving to the Town Hall for a greeting and reception with the Deputy Mayor.  We presented a small gift to commemorate our visit.  Tastings of local wine, both sweet and dry, were appreciated.

Welcome Dinner

A warm friendly welcome to Pau

The Town Hall reception

On Wednesday it was an early start as we took a bus, then a gondola, and finally a small train to the Pyrenees!!  Finally we reached L'Artouste Lake, 2000 metres above sea level!  This train ride is the highest train in Europe.  The views were spectacular, and the snow treacherous!!


A happy group!

Magnificent scenery

..and the peaks!



..be careful!



..or this happens!!

train travel!

Thursday was a free day to be spent with hosts and several of us visited Lourdes.  The flood devastation of the week before was very evident, both in Pau and Lourdes.

in the mountains

The grotto at Lourdes

Cleaning up from the floods

On Friday we had another bus journey - this time to the sea at Biarritz and St Jean de Luz - before climbing another mountain, this time on a cog railway!

Biarritz

The cog railway to La Rhune

The view alluded us! .. but the ride was worth the effort!

On Saturday we met for a tour of the lovely old church at Monein, with its inverted ship-like frame roof, before  continuing to Jeanie and Michel's winery, Domaine Barthelemey for wine tasting and lunch in the court yard.

The inverted frame

Descending the spiral stair case

 

Lunch in the court yard

Enjoying the wine

Viewing the vines beforehand

On Sunday there was a farewell luncheon - the week had gone so quickly!!  We had made such good friends in such a short time, and only hope that the boomerangs do return to Adelaide before too long!

 

A happy farewell

The French singing .. we didn't outshine them!

  .

Good friendships