Visit to Pau

We visited Carlos's family earlier in the month and I'm just now getting around to putting up the photos. We stayed for an extended weekend, which included a historical 14 juillet walk, hike in the Pyrénées, and an afternoon waiting for the Tour de France.

On the way there we had thought we would go renew my resident card but we arrived too late... not easy to get out of the door in time with a baby. So instead we took our time on the road and stopped for lunch. Aimy was a champ eating outdoor for the first time, though I think having her high chair helped.

Om nom nom!

Aimy was a bit hesitant at first but she warmed up quite quickly to her paternal family, especially to her cousins. What she didn't warm up to was sleeping in the travel bed. That made it a bit difficult for Carlos and I. Fortunately when we got back home she snapped right back to napping well and sleeping through the night.

On Saturday we went for a walk through the centre of Lescar, the city where Carlos's parents live. It is the site of a Roman city called Beneharnum that was founded in the 3rd century, and some of the medieval ramparts that exist today were built on the base of the original Roman fortifications.

12th century cathedral.

Different layers of bricks after additions/repairs to the cathedral

Fortification tower in the background.

Fortifications.

Stone sarcophagi, now cleverly turned into planters. 

Roman/Medieval wall

From another angle with medieval window

Roman fountain

Path down to the Roman fountain

While we were walking through the city we noticed a parade of people, and realized that the city hard organized a ceremony at the war memorial for the 14th of July/Bastille Day. We stopped to watch and took some photos, and though the police began to take down the flags, as soon as they saw that I was taking pictures, they put everything back up again... very sweet.

Putting away the flags...

...then back in place!

More about the rest of our trip in further entries.