I stayed two extra days in Hossegor to see a regional championship Pelote (Jai-Alai) match. Pelote (pronounced pull-et) is the sport of the Basque Country and it's marketed as the fastest sport in the world because the ball can travel up to 200 mph.
I first saw a Pelote court on my way to Burgos, Spain and then saw a lot more once I hit Hernani. I told myself I needed to go see a match. Most of my traveling has been about the destination, so this time I decided it would be about an event.
I've seen the sport on TV, but it's hard to get a grasp of the speed of the ball and the whipping sound made when a player hurls the ball toward the wall. It reminds me a little of handball meets tennis meets 500 (a game we played as kids where dad would throw up a baseball and put a certain value on the ball depending on difficulty, goal was to get to 500).
The event itself was a great experience, but what I didn't account for was the time waiting for the match. Hossegor is a sleepy little beach town with a Cali vibe. I got a chance to relax, catch up on my blog, and take care of other little tasks that you have to get done but put off until you're able to sit still long enough.
The day before the big match I scouted out the place to make sure I knew where it was. Here are a couple of local kids getting a lesson.
The equipment. Pelota (ball), Xistera (glove).
Way Of Living Life (WOLL). Locally brewed Hossegor beer.
The café I spent a lot of time at. Good vibe. Good Wi-Fi speed.
