Greyrocks' plans for a "managed exit" from France entailed roughly two weeks from surgeon appointment to checking out from the comfortable Dax accommodation. We held on to the wheelchair for a few days but barely used it, and the three last visits for physiotherapy were achieved without even the single crutch. The town was getting very full by the time we did leave as the dreaded "feria" approached, and eating out at our favoured places was a bit tricky, but we did get round what we see as the culinary stars of Dax:
(Ruth intends to write Trip Advisor reviews of the last two in due course!) We also enjoyed being able to get on foot to the on-site very sound restaurant where we were on the third iteration of its three-week plat du jour cycle.
Also on site - but unthinkable until this last phase - was the spa! We eschewed the mud treatments but on a very hot afternoon had an hour or so in the pool. It was a shade crowded but Ruth could exercise, and Bob even passed to the outdoor section for a short swim. We made a third visit to the cinema:- this time to see the film with the English title "Can you ever forgive me?" - thirteen in the audience - and Yvette got her first ever full valet service - to set her up for the grand départ on August 8th.
This was not a day too soon, as things were getting a bit drastic in the town centre! We saw more and more public areas, such as roundabouts and statuary, sealed off with wire fencing, so asked the physio about this and heard that it was to prevent rogue camping, drunken damage and urination/vomiting, all of which abound during the four-day event. The mild-mannered young woman waxed lyrical about the olden days before such measures - in particular the smell! These two videos convey both the colourful official side, and the reality, of the Feria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE8n1vGKf_U
This was not a day too soon, as things were getting a bit drastic in the town centre! We saw more and more public areas, such as roundabouts and statuary, sealed off with wire fencing, so asked the physio about this and heard that it was to prevent rogue camping, drunken damage and urination/vomiting, all of which abound during the four-day event. The mild-mannered young woman waxed lyrical about the olden days before such measures - in particular the smell! These two videos convey both the colourful official side, and the reality, of the Feria.
Greyrocks decided it had a soft spot for the town - which holds the record for length of time in one stay in France, and that a short re-visit would be quite pleasant - but not in August!!
No comments:
Post a Comment