From Catalonia he went to spend the summer in Roncal. He liked taking care of the works of the schools and running around, walking through his mountains or, simply, living with his people. Julián was devoted to San Sebastián, venerated in the hermitage of Navarzato. His mother had already placed him under her protection, taking him there as a newborn. This summer of 1888 a great party was held, the whole town was invited. Men, women and children, on horseback or on foot, went up in a joyous pilgrimage. The priests of Roncal, Garde and Urzainqui sang the mass. From the Gayarre choir, his nephew Valent n, Pepe Elorrio and people from the town answered the officiants. Gayarre spoke with his countrymen in hoarse Basque, which he mastered, as evidenced by the letter to his aunt Juana. A splendid country meal in the midst of a general merriment. "The wine flowed without rate and soon txistus and tamboriles came out, ending up forming -Hernández Girbalel- the most lively and joyful peasant dance. No one, not even Julián, stopped taking part in it." This dance was the txuntxun, common at that time to all the towns of the valley. Gayarre expressed his desire to perfect the party for 1889. But this party in Navarzato will be last.
MEL