We're not in Kansas any more (2)

Today we packed the car and set off for our "camping" holiday. S had looked up the weather for our destination and discovered that there were storm warnings and 100% chance of rain for the whole weekend. So he took the precaution of phoning the camp site he'd booked and switching our reservation from a tent pitch to an apartment. At first we thought the precaution had been unnecessary, as although it was overcast it was not raining. But within minutes of our arrival it started to drizzle, then we had thunder and lightning, and now we are sitting in the bar of the campsite in Erratzu looking out at the pouring rain.

We left home in brilliant sunshine, but when we got to our lunch stop in Lannemezan we just had time to park the car, walk into the restaurant and sit down, and the heavens opened dramatically. Our lunch was perfectly timed; the storm passed over in 15 minutes and it was clear again by the time we left, satisfactorily replete with a very traditional Italian meal. The Italian owner is so determinedly traditional that he doesn't offer pizza, which is refreshing; after antipasti, we had fresh pasta and lovely panna cotta.

This photo is taken from the top of the Col d'Ispéguy (Izpegi in Basque) on the border between France and Spain. The view must be wonderful in good weather, but today as you can see it was pretty grim. We knew we'd got to the Basque Country when we saw a woman walking down the street in shorts and T-shirt, carrying a furled black umbrella. No self-respecting Basque goes anywhere without an umbrella.

But still, we are in God's Own Country, Euskal Herria, and the weather is supposed to improve tomorrow afternoon. So we may unfurl the tent yet.