RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT!
As my life flashed in front of my eyes Graham finally
realised he’d entered the winding mountain road on the wrong side and was driving
on the left. His mind had suddenly gone back into UK mode. Luckily the previously
busy road had gone quiet and we escaped unharmed. Phew! (I would like to say
that his driving has been very good up till this point.)
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| Mr Fluffy loves a French woodpile |
We’d pootled along the Camino de Santiago, stopping, of
course, to overnight near a free wine fountain at a monastery in Irache.
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| Love a free Wiiiiiiiiine |
After
taking of the holy drop we went on to Zugurramurdi in the witchiest Basque
country, there to partake of the Museum of Witchcraft and famous caves where 17th
century witches held their sabbats.
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| Spain's Museum of Witchcraft |
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| Tableaux of The Inquisitors and a Captured 'Witch' |
The museum was an interesting affair, mainly focusing on the
history of the witch hunts in the area where several people were burned as
witches when hysteria overtook the region, thanks to the doings of The
Inquisition. Although light on actual artefacts they had several tableaux and
audiovisual pieces which made it a very interesting visit.
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| Nice Skull |
There is a section
on local folklore, of the Basque Goddess Mari and her accompanying legendary
figures, and of the political similarities of the witchhunts of the 17th
Century with persecutions which have taken place later in history, such as the
Nazis in Europe.
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| Ready for the Akelarre |
On to the caves. We had visited here several years ago and
pretty much had the place to ourselves as it was the middle of winter. This
time it was busier but still atmospheric, especially in the Akelarre cave where
the witches are said to have held their sabbats.
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| La Grande Grotte |
These days the caves are more
likely to be filled with parents taking photos of hilarious children pulling
ugly faces pretending to be nasty witches.
And now, back in France, we look forward to a market or two
where we can buy some fabulous cheese and practice our French.
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