Biarritz, France

Another early day today. We requested to have breakfast at 8, and when we came out of our room to the shared kitchen/eating area, breakfast was waiting. We enjoyed baguettes, croissants, fruit and yogurt with another couple from Australia. They had been touring around for 5 weeks and were heading up to Paris after a day in Amboise. We packed up and headed out to Biarritz.

So Shay and I have decided to move to Biarritz. It is beautiful here. It is Orange County meets the Amalfi coast. Huge chateau style hotels and churches built into the rocky cliff side over looking the waves that lap up on the sandy beach and rock croppings. 

The drive from Amboise was long, the tolls were high and the gas was expensive. We paid one toll of 36 Euros and about 4 other tolls of 2 euros. It took over 5 hours. Gas was 1.64 per litre. We got into town and were greeted by a Speedo-clad Pierrick (a French Robert de Niro) who so graciously welcomed us into his home.

Sit down and drink that coffee!

You can also get soup from the cappuccino machine

The bouncy castle in the back is standard.

Pierrick showed us around the huge apartment. There were two bedrooms a bathroom with washing machine (where we very quickly started two loads of laundry), a full kitchen and a large family room. It was Awesome. We came in the same entrance as the family but our flat was on the second floor. They had rooms on the third floor as well as the main floor and a backyard that was large enough for a pool. 

Our street

Pierrick told us all about town. He had maps for us, and told us all of the sights to see and things to do. He explained that the light house was for men only at night, and we looked at him skeptically, and he said it again, "at night the light house is for men only." We caught his drift. 

He explained where we could surf, the beach that was for "babies and mommies," all while sweating and dabbing himself with a small paper towel that was disintegrating on him by the minute. He told us where the train station was, and that he would take us there after we dropped off the car at the airport.

We went to the station to purchase a ticket and did so in French! We learned that we had to take the train to Hendaye, then switch trains and go the rest of the way to San Sebastian, where we would switch trains again to Pamplona. Hopefully it all works out!

After getting our tickets we wanted to see the beach. We drove in only a few circles, miscounting the roundabout exit once. From the flat, we could walk to the beach. It was only 800m. We jumped in the ocean and fell in love. We ate dinner over looking the sea and sunset, then walked along the promenade lit up by the lighthouse and other restaurants.

People congregate on the beach at night to watch the tide come in and drink with their friends. Walking home at night in the dark was not a problem. We felt very safe here. Can't wait for tomorrow!