Dax: The local tourism site has a story for us, which starts with a statue: In the square facing the cathedral, which refers to the legend of Dax : a garnison Legionnaire owned a crippled dog. Going to war, he decided to abandon him in the banks of the Adour. When the Legionnaire returned, he was surprised to find his dog reinvigorated by the benefits of mud left by the river. Thermalism was born.
I also really appreciate that the tourist site has a what to do on a rainy day section.
Le Tour suggests a festival: The Fêtes de Dax take place over a fortnight around 15 August and are listed as part of France's intangible cultural heritage. Combining popular festivities with bullfighting, Gascon identity and borrowings from Spain, these days of jubilation transform the face of the spa town, which becomes the scene of numerous musical, folkloric and sporting events. The town welcomes an average of 800,000 people over the entire festival. For the occasion, the custom is to dress in white with a scarf and a red belt. This practice is inspired by the famous Fiestas de San Fermín, in Pamplona, Navarre. These festivals have their origins in the countless fairs and agricultural markets that punctuated the calendar of the Landes department until the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the 19th century, a livestock fair was organised in mid-August and gave rise to bullfighting races.
Regional Specialties: thermalism, mineral water. Farmhouse duck from the Landes. Madeleine de Dax. Landes tourtière. Asparagus from the sands of the Landes. Wild salmon from the Adour.
Nogaro: The reigonal tousit site tells me that A modern city full of fun, Nogaro is known for its motor racing circuit: the Paul Armagnac circuit. But there is so much more to know! The village is on the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle and there are also famous arenas, for good performances of Landes races.
Regional Specialties: armagnac. Côtes-de-Saint-Mont wines. Floc de Gascogne. Foie gras. Confits.
Christian Prudhomme says: The stage is set for a rematch between the sprinters, but the hilly terrain of the Gers could also suit a small breakaway group. Their cooperation would have to be total to hold off the peloton, while the finish on the Nogaro motor-racing circuit will provide the stage winner with a success with a rare flavour. The peloton’s speedsters will certainly want to go head to head on the final 800-metre straight.
The stage: Sometimes when it is almost certain to be a bunch sprint the break just doesn't form for kilometers and kilometers. After several half hearted attempts, there was an effort by van Aert that woke folks up a bit. Sadly, it did not last.
Just above 100 kilometers to go and they were 13 minutes behind the slowest expected speed. These are the days when the announcers need some good, long stories to fill the air.
Finally, some excitement at the spintermediate, with Philipsen taking maximum points. With that, he had taken the lead in the green jersey competition. And a break! Delaplace and Cosnefroy. Under 60 kilometers to go and they had about a minute.
35 kilometers and 35 seconds. Under 25 kilometers and they were all together.
There was a stressful pinch point with a gate as they would enter the finishing circuit, so tension had grown in the peloton.
Yikes. Small crash after small crash as they neared the line. That was ugly.
🇧🇪Back to back for @JasperPhilipsen!
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 4, 2023
🇧🇪2 à la suite pour @JasperPhilipsen !#TDF2023 @Continental_fr pic.twitter.com/KCK3cY4Xmq
The wine: La Teuf Cote de Gascogne 2020
From Copake Wine Works
How could I resist a wine with a disco ball on the label?
An importer tells me that: Domaine de Laballe, consists of five and a half organically farmed vines Gros Manseng vines, of which three and a half are being worked biodynamically. It is a one of a kind winery nestled in the heart of the French South West, in between Landes and Gers. The domaine was first bought by Mister Jean Dominique Laudet in 1820. From there, it was passed along generation to generation. The eighth generation is now running the domaine with Cyril and his wife, Julie. By respecting his family heritage and traditions, Cyril is now producing wines with their very own identity. La Teuf, a French slang term for “party” it was formed by pronouncing “fête” backwards, because Gros Manseng = party.
The food: Tourtière Landaise recipe from the regional tourism site
Pastry preparation: 40’
Stretching: 15’
Baking: 45’ (th.6)
Ingredients
500 g flour
1 egg
1 pinch of salt diluted in 1 glass of water
Garnish
125 g melted butter
200 g caster sugar
1 sachet of vanilla sugar
1/2 cup of Armagnac
3 apples sliced very finely.
Preparation
In a pie dish, mix and knead all the ingredients until you obtain soft, non-sticky pastry without lumps.
Roll into a ball and knead it for about ½ h to loosen it. Leave it to sit in the fridge for at least 1 h, coated with oil to prevent it from drying out.
Roll it out (with a rolling pin) on white linen (traditionally a sheet), stretch the pastry using fingertips – a bit like a pizza cook would do – being careful to always start from the centre. The pastry must be fine like cigarette paper – the famous “bride’s veil” -, and should totally cover a large dining table sitting 6 to 8 people.
Leave to dry for 10 minutes then sprinkle with sugar and moisten with melted butter. To do this, use a brush. Then fold the pastry in 3 lengthwise. To fold the pastry, use the sheet underneath to help you.
Cut out 2 circles slightly bigger than the cake tin, which you have already buttered, to obtain 6 layers. Place the first 3 pastry layers in the tin.
Peel the apples and slice finely. Baste the apple slices with the sachet of vanilla sugar and Armagnac. Mix well.
Garnish the tin with the Armagnac-flavoured apples, then cover this garnish with the other 3 layers of pastry.
For a delightful end result, scrunch the top layer before drizzling it with melted butter, sugar and Armagnac. Cook in a hot oven for 45 minutes.
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