impromptu sunday

Bagneres de Bigorre is one of my favourite towns for a whole host of reasons. I have enjoyed the town all year round from spas to good food and mountain walks. This Sunday was a special occasion, we had always promised ourselves we would go back.

Saturday is the the big full on market, which is very diverse and well worth a visit. What not everyone knows is that a small portion in the undercover market is still open on a Sunday. Importantly the wet fish counter and it's counterpart the zinc bar next door. Mini tapas at six euros a platter, the freshest oysters you could ever taste, prawns in chili and garlic, calamari and stuffed moules, a simple menu that varies with seasonal catch all with a sauce or vinegar to dip your fish or shellfish into. Added to this a superb wine list, probably supplied by one of the other sellers in the market, by the glass or the bottle. We had a couple of glasses of Jurancon, a local wine, and a good pairing, i think, with seafood.

Saturday and this would be buzzing on a grand scale!

Afterwards we all got to bounce around on the col a couple of kilometres outside Bagneres, beautiful countryside and absolutely stupendous views. We love it, and as you can see our sheep dog of the Pyrenees was in her element! A really glorious day the freedom we have is amazing.