Part 1: Biarritz, France
For our summer vacation, we spent a few days in the Basque region of France and Spain. To start, we flew into Biarritz, France, which is one of the southwestern-most cities in France. Biarritz is on the Bay of Biscay, opening to the Atlantic Ocean. If you're thinking, "Biarritz" doesn't sound very French, you'd be correct. The name is Basque (Eskara), one of the oldest languages in the world and only spoken in this region of France and the neighboring region of northern Spain. Approximately 700,000 people speak Eskara today in this area, and it's a very difficult language to learn, as its roots are different from all modern languages. I only picked up one word - "kaixo," which means, "hello!" (If you're interested in the fascinating history and politics of the Basque region, I recommend a quick internet search.)
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| Pyrenees Mountains in the distance |
Biarritz is a seaside town that became popular in the nineteenth century after Empress Eugenie frequented the area for fresh air and saltwater's healing properties. In its heyday, Biarritz attracted royalty and starlets from across Europe. Today you can still find remnants of luxurious hotels but the vibe is fairly laid-back, thanks to its new reputation as the surfing capital of Europe.
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| This photo doesn't do justice to the serious waves |
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| Nineteenth-century mansion on the cliffs |
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| Our view from a bench while eating waffles with Nutella |
But that is exactly why we picked Biarritz - to escape the hustle of tourist-populated cities and rejuvenate the mind at our happy place, the beach!
To spice up our days of lazily lounging on the sand/pebbles, we hopped on a city bus to visit the town of Bayonne down the road. Yes, it is named after the bayonet, first produced here. The locals are also famous for their ham, cheese, and chocolate, yum! It was so lovely to meander around the quaint and adorable streets for an afternoon. The ambiance sucked me in, and I even bought a hand-woven basket to carry my baguette and chèvre, of course! We also loved the thirteenth-century Bayonne Cathedral and its glorious cloister, which was the center of the village.
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| Those shutters, c'mon! |
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| Serenity |
Another day we visited the town of St-Jean-de-Luz and tried their famous macaroons...and unabashedly, more wine and cheese. :) The beach at SJDL was perfection: the softest sand and not crowded at all. We had a spectacular seafood feast for lunch on the beach to cap it off.
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| Not your typical French macaroon - delicious! |
Fishing remains a staple in the economy. And after our lunch, I can see why!
Biarritz and its surrounding towns were wonderful. I'm beginning to understand Francophiles now! Sunshine, amazing wine, cheese, Nutella, and friendly people - what's not to love?! Au revoir, dear France! Stay tuned for Part 2: San Sebastian, Espana!
