Showing posts with label Biarritz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biarritz. Show all posts

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Journey

Our journey to France has come to an end!      
                 
Our three month adventure / journey was an awesome experience as we lived and immersed ourselves in the small commune of Dégagnac and the surrounding area in the Lot Department in southwest France.
Dégagnac is north of Toulouse and South of Sarlat.

Monsieur Honey and I can't believe how quickly the time went. 

We explored many places some spontaneously and by chance when we would wonder...
"Where do you think that road goes?"


We did some "brocante"- ing, well maybe more than some and Monsieur Honey may say not enough; but it was great fun and created the opportunity to explore some new French towns, villages and areas that we had not previously visited and as an added bonus we found some treasures that will be our "souvenirs". 

Remember, Monsieur Honey purchased a guide book of sorts listing all the 2013 Brocante's, Vide-Greniers in the Midi-Pyrénées. This was well worth the 5.40 euros spent.

         
 
        

When I walk by the "Little Prince" hanging in the foyer; I'll remember our day spent at the Brocante in Puy L'Evêque running into some old acquaintances at the coffee shop, and Monsieur Honey and I 's lunch date in the courtyard at Le Caillau.

                           
A new starter ... Yummy!

We were busy most of the time.

We reunited with old friends and met some wonderful people who became very good friends.
We explored and enjoyed many adventures.

We ate many delicious and different foods at the cafés/restaurants, at our friends or in our own kitchen at Beaucaillou, and of course the wine tasting was part of the experience also.

We attended a couple of special evenings at our favourite restaurants.

An Italian themed Soirée at Le Diabolo Fraise, Nabirat... a fun night of delicious food, great tasting wine and wonderful company.

       Café Restaurant Le Diabolo - Fraise 
       Le Bourg, 24250 Nabirat
I still have to get Catherine's recipe for her Tarte Citron...so delicious!
 There was special musical evening with the Celtic Blues group, The Rogues in the courtyard at "Le Caillau"... We enjoyed an evening of live music, fine wines and delicious food.
    
Le Caillau, Vire sur Lot, 46700  www.lecaillau.com 
We were served tapas followed by a Thai Green Curry and strawberry tart for dessert...


 

Both restaurants are our favourites ... they both are very different from each other and each has their own unique charm/character. 
The food they serve is creative, locally sourced and always delicious.

We visited several Châteaux and even took advantage of a special package deal to stay in a grand old Chateau ...

Château Monbazillac ...
                                     Château des Milandes
                 
On the drive to the Chateau in the Auvergne, I saw mistletoe growing in the trees.
We did some spring gardening at Beaucaillou which kept us busy ...
Thank you Madame M. for the recent photo, it looks like the garden is enjoying your hot summer weather.     
  
    And we visited several colourful gardens and markets...
                               

Through my friendship with Madame M., I discovered a new interest / maybe it could even be called a new passion for walking.  

I realized that these "boots"were made for walking.
So maybe a walk on part of the Pilgramage route to Compostella will be in the cards for the future!
  
                             
Our last week in France we spent in Basque Country on the Atlantic Coast very near the Spanish Border.


When we returned our rental car we had recorded in excess of 5000 kilometers, but who knows how many kilometers I walked over the three months!

         And there was so much more...

 Thank you Monsieur Honey for being my travel partner... 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Can She Surf... Rays and Waves in Biarritz!

Our travels into Biarritz was easy today...without too much traffic and a prime parking spot found in Centre-ville.

Biarritz is a luxurious seaside resort town on the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic coast). 
It is only 18 kilometers from the Spanish border.
With it's casinos and beaches it is a major tourist destination.


 Beautiful hydrangeas in multiple colours were everywhere.


The promenade along the beach front...

The Casino...

Oh yes please, one of each! 
La Grande Plage..chairs, umbrellas and cabanas for rent.
   Hotel du Palais ( formerly Villa Eugenie)

In 1854 Empress Eugenie,wife of Napoleon III built a palace on the beach now a luxurious Hotel.

                        

Biarritz was a popular holiday destination for the Royal family and other dignitaries such as Winston Churchill and has been a playground for the rich and famous for over a 100 years.

Today, it is a popular tourist spot and a haven for surfers with many surfing competitions held here. 

The rock tunnel underneath the Hotel du Palais.


The park overlooking the promenade...

Sometimes instead of stopping to smell the roses, a park bench is all that is needed and is just as good to enjoy some people watching and a view of the azure ocean.

Monsieur Honey is enjoying the view and activities.

And as he often says, "Even if we weren't here, all of this would still be happening!" 

It is like the "Sliding Doors" analogy.






                      
When this guy found out it was our last day on the Basque Coast he suggested we head to the beach to ...

                                     "Catch some rays and waves!"
                      

Next stop the Beach in Bidart for a seafood lunch at the seaside and an afternoon of sunshine!
Icy cold "Sangria de la Maison"... La Tantina de la Playa. Plage du Centre 64210 Bidart
Shrimp in a creamy garlic sauce.
A plate of seafood... "Crevettes, huîtres et bulots".

I knew what everything was except for the "bulots" ... even looking at them in the seafood counter I still wasn't sure what they were?

When we got back to our room, I did some research ... Bulots = seasnails! 

They were cooked in a spicy seasoning and served with garlic mayonnaise.

I love escargot but these things although very flavourfully seasoned were very chewy.



Do you think anyone else was people watching today?


All I needed was my sister and grandchildren to play "jump the waves"! 
Can you imagine how much fun that would be, just like when we were kids?

Surfing school ...lessons about to begin. 
Limbering up...
Hitting the water first without the boards...

An hour later finally on the boards...

What time is my lesson?
Okay, maybe for now this is how close I'll get... It's pretty rough water today!

At least I got my feet wet in the waters of the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean.

The water was clean and not as cold as the Med...in Collioure.

My first foot in the Med ...ten years ago!




     A great way to spend our last day on the Basque Coast.