The challenge: start looking for somewhere to eat on the French side of the border at 1 PM…read more Typically this would not be a problem on the Spanish side in the Basque Country, or in more urban parts of the French side. We figured 1 PM would be a good time to start looking in Baigorri, more than mere hamlet but less than a city. The one establishment open for business had absolutely no food, would not even make us a sandwich. So we forged ahead toward Banka. The lone bar there was abandoned - it was wide open, the TV was blaring, but not a soul in sight, even after ringing the bell on the bar. At that point we simply resigned ourselves to the fact that we and our two hungry kids were not going to find anything to eat until we would arrive in Iruñea some hours later, and started up the grade towards the border. On the right side of the highway, we came across Auberge Bidartea, which turned out to be our oasis. Run by two older ladies, they informed us that normally they had stopped serving by that time, but they'd whip something up for us. The brought out a tureen of lentils, followed by steak and chips. Nothing out of the ordinary for everyday Basque fare, but it was prepared to perfection, and saved the day for this hungry family. Very affordable as well.