Being so close to the border, today we visited a little of the Basque region of France. First stop was in the chi-chi town of Biarritz. What originated as a small fishing village, is now known for it's casinos, shops and surf culture. A couple of seaside photos, a quick and expensive coffee, along with our first taste of the local "Basque Cake" (an almond based sweet), was about all we had time for.
Although the cake that is synonymous with the region was tasty, I have to be honest.
I enjoy the version served at Bar Isabel in Toronto, far better. I think Grant, the head chef at Isabel, took his inspiration for the cake from this part of the world and improved on it.
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| Dozens of surfers waiting to "catch a wave" |
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| The view from the lighthouse lookout toward Biarritz |
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| The Lighthouse |
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| Basque Cake |
Our second destination was St Jean De Luz. Although still an active fishing port, the town has become a popular tourist destination with it's clean beaches, high end hotels, a casino and golf courses. The town's early wealth apparently came from it's famous Basque corsaires, aka pirates.
We spent most of our time in the old town, wandering the shops and enjoying a delicious lunch of moules et frites (mussels and fries), washed down with a glass of chardonnay.
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| A fishing vessel returning home |
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| Quaint narrow pedestrian streets |
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| City Hall |
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| A sheltered port |
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| One of the shops selling pastries like Basque cakes and macarons |
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| The town was also the site of Louis XIV's wedding in 1660 |
We finished the day with a delicious dinner at a local establishment called Bar Pepe and a stroll through the park around Miramar Palace on the way back to the hotel.
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| Delicious chicken skewers at Bar Pepe |
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| Miramar Palace |
Next, we travel to Barcelona with a short stop to run with the bulls in Pamplona, along the way.
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