Great day yesterday. To start with a perfect lamb roast, medium rare it was fantastic. I will admit to having five serving I could not pass it up. One of the courses was my desert course.

Then we went on a tour to Chateau de Roquetaillade. I looked it up on the internet and did not look that impressive but we decided to go and we really liked it. Great history and now a private home that has been in the family for over 300 years. A lot of renovation was done to change it from a Fortress into a Chateau in the early 1800's. Most of that is still there and very well preserved.

The guides are what made the trip. The bus guide was funny, did not understand everything she said but she laughed all the time with cute little exclamations, just adorable. The chateau guide bought the whole chateaux alive with his stories and in particular the kitchen and modern bathroom (for the 1800's). The kitchen must have had 100 copper pots, a center island stove that was unique to that time period. All types of "machines" for food preparation. The bedroom had a LARGE bathroom with a large copper water heater that emptied into a bathtub. He talked quickly, kept it moving but you wanted to hear every word. He was so knowledge and so intelligent a cut above most guides you meet.

Once we were back on the bus the bus guide told us he was the owner of the Chateau from the same family that has been in the Chateaux for 300 years. It made me realize he did not dwell on the portraits or much detail of the family but on the innovate design and furnishings for the time period.

Today we had a day at sea which was nice and relaxing. Tonight we heard at dinner that we would not be able to tender in the port of St. Jean-de-Luz. The swells would be too high. So the Captain is heading straight to our next port of call Bilbao and we will get there at 11.00 am so we will have an extra afternoon and stay over night and then a full day in Bilbao. A good move making the decision early and setting course for Bilbao. They are creating new shore excursions now for tomorrow afternoon.

Life is good on the Explorer though our trivia team is not as intimidating. Because of tours we have not been at full strength, usually just four of us, and we were today but missed being in the tokens by one point.