Where Are We From?

This exciting journey has taken a few mere months and I have learned that I am not only NOT one of the few Mialocqs in the world, but that I have 40 living relatives in the Aquitaine region of southern France, especially in Jurancon, where my cousin Jean-Claude resides.  I have learned that the Mialocq ancestors were present in Sainte Suzanne, the birth site of many, that my grandfather was born and raised in Viellegegure, and that my grandmother was born and raised in Aucun.  Now my investigation begins into just what these places are like. We will start with Pau and the Aquitaine region.  I located a website entitled FRENCH CHARACTER HOMES and this is what I found out about the Aquitaine region and the city of Pau:

The Region

The South West of France is renowned for its crystal clean air, great climate, superb food and wines and endless culture. The countryside is safe and idyllic, planted with vines, splashes of waving corn and bright sunflowers. There are traditional markets held in fortified villages selling fresh organic produce, homemade honeys, cheeses and pates. There are an abundance of night markets where locals jostle together around stalls of producers. One can explore the garlic and cheese festivals, the music and cultural events, or simply stroll around the historic chateaux, estates, abbeys and museums.

For the more energetic, the Pyrenees mountain range offers a host of exciting activities from canoeing, rafting and kayaking to hand-gliding, rock climbing and horse-riding. For winter sports, the Pyrenean summits boast hundreds of kilometers of ski runs, which meander beneath branches of pine trees. There are several summits topping 3000metres, including Pic du Montcalm (3077m), Pic du Balaitous (3146m), and the famous Pic du Midi (2872m). Along the Atlantic coast, water-sports are of abundance. Biarritz has a strong surfing culture, which is of world class standard.

The region hosts numerous festivals; notably centered around food and drink ! These include garlic, cheese, melon, wine and beer festivals. Each town hosts its own festival; Pau, for example, has a three week festival which is an extravaganza of dance, music and theatre. It also hosts its own Formula 3000 Grand Prix and the Classic Car Grand Prix, which runs through the city streets over the Pentecost weekend. The Tour de France has for many years, completed the mountain stage in the town centre of Pau.

Culinary Delights

Whether you choose to eat on the terraces of small restaurants or dine in the elegance of grand restaurants, France prides itself in its gastronomic delights. Among the specialties are foie gras, Toulouse style "cassoulet", confit de canard, magret, and naturally a vast range of charcuteries and local cheeses. To accompany the renowned French cuisine, the choices of wines are plentiful. Perhaps the best known in the area are Bergerac, Gaillac, Madiran, Buzet, Cahors and Jurançon. Armagnac is also a favourite beverage and is one of the oldest French ‘eau de vies’!

The Climate

The South West of France boasts an average of 2000 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest regions of France. Temperatures exceed 25C between 60 and 80 days of the year. Spring comes early and has a feel of summer. Winters can be cold, but this provides enough snow for skiers extending the season from December to April.

All I can say is WOW!  No wonder that my Mialocq ancestors stayed in this part of the world for centuries!

Next stop:  Jurancon, where most of my present-day relatives reside.