We enjoyed learning more about flysch on the Essential Flysch boat tour back in May when my brother visited, so we decided to try another Geopark tour during the summer. On Saturday (Aug. 17) we went with our friends David and Maite to Deba for the Black Flysch Tour. Deba is a 45-minute train ride west of San Sebastian.
When we arrived, we had time to grab a coffee, and we were fortunate to catch some traditional Basque music and dancing happening in the streets of Deba:
Maite, who is Basque, explained that only coastal Basques wear the traditional blue dresses. She fondly remembered doing this dance when she was a teenager. The men’s performance included drumming and fencing-like play using actual hoes (we assume this is a reference to the importance of farming in the Basque region). We always enjoy these traditional cultural displays and we encounter them more often than you might think.
The Black Flysch tour took us down to Deba’s beach to observe and interpret the layers of Flysch. Deba’s flysch includes the oldest layers, contrasted with the newer pink-colored flysch in Zumaia, where we have been previously. There are three layers in Deba – the black layer, a red layer (that has iron deposits), and a sandy brown layer. (I'm leaving out the scientific names, which sound even more technical in Spanish.) These layers were formed as the Iberian Peninsula merged with Europe millions of years ago. The contrasts between flysch and the additional details our guide provider were fascinating. It was a perfect sunny day – here are a few photos:
We just might go back for one more flysch tour, this time to see the ancient nautilus fossils that have been collected from the flysch. Before you know it, we’ll be flysch experts and able to give our own tours to friends and family. Hint, hint . . .
Hasta luego,
Shana & Jeff
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