Down the coast to Spain - via some beaches on the way!

The road to Spain!

Everybody who has been to San Sebastian raves about it - even people who haven't been there have heard about it and want to go there. From what I have heard and read people compare it to the French Riviera minus the huge number of tourists.

I am really excited about going to Spain - I've never been there and I know I'm going to love it.

So the morning of the 14th April we leave Bordeaux. I would like to head out via the Arcachon Basin which sounds like it's worth a look.  Then I think we should just head straight to Bayonne and Biarritz.
There are places on the way such as Mimizan and Hossegor but really you can't stop everywhere and I'm keen to get to Biarritz so Soph and I can buy our matching espardrills.
Hossegor does sound really lovely actually upon reading further - and the Rip Curl Pro and Quicksilver pro are held here. we can either drive down D652 along the coast or N10 which is the freeway. If we go the D652 it takes 2 hours to Hossegor - and then 1/2 an hour from there to Biarritz.- if we go from Bordeaux to Biarritz down N10 and A63 it only takes just over 2 hours.
I think we'll see how we feel on the day :)

Anyway into the Pays basque area  which sounds fantastic but we won't get to see much of it at all - just the coastal area.  There are lots of lovely sounding villages in the Pyrenees - have to explore them another time.

First place we are planning to stop in Bayonne which is only a very short distance to Biarritz. This town looks lovely and is split by a river. I am just street viewing it and the buildings and little alleyways are so lovely. There is also a cathedral there. Rue du Pont Neuf is pedestianised and has alot of cafes.

Biarritz is only 10 - 15 minutes away from Bayonne. I would like to have lunch here and explore.

    I don't know that it will be this busy in April!!


So Grande Plage is the main beach  which stretches along in front of the Casino. Other things to see are the Hotel du Palais and the Phare de la pinte Saint-Martin is the lighthouse with 248 steps to the top. The view is all over the Basque coast so would be worth it.


Shopping 
The major boutiques, with all the big designer names from Paris, are on place Clemenceau in the heart of Biarritz. From this square, fan out to rue Gambetta, rue Mazagran, avenue Victor-Hugo, avenue Edouard-VII, avenue du Maréchal-Foch, and avenue de Verdun. Look for the exceptional Biarritz chocolates and confections, and textiles from the Basque country.

Virtually every souvenir shop and department store in the region sells espadrilles, the canvas-topped, rope-bottomed slippers. A simple off-the-shelf model begins at around 15€, and made-to-order versions (special sizes, special colors) rarely top 70€. Upscale espadrilles are made to order in Bidart, a hamlet between Biarritz and St-Jean-de-Luz, at Maison Garcia, pont de Baskutenea (tel. 05-59-26-51-27). Opened in 1937, this is one of the last manufacturers to finish its products by hand.

From there we'll head to St Jean-de Luz which is just down the road.  On the way we'll drive through some of the beaches such as Erromradi, Lafitenia, Mayarco and Senix which all share with the resort of Guethary and look like they are on the road we drive down. St Jean de Luz is a quiet fishing town excpect for August when it's a huge tourist resort. There are shops to rival Rue du Faubourg St - Honore in Paris. This is said to be one of the prettiest resorts on the Basque coast and has a lovely long sandy beach.







Looks so cute!!