Lionel, my friend Sophie and I decided kinda last minute to take advantage of the incredible weather we've been having and spend the past weekend enjoying the sand, sea and sun in Arcachon. After making plans to just spend the day on Saturday we got invited to an even-more-last-minute barbeque in La Teste de Buch for Saturday night so decided to make a weekend of it.
We headed out early Saturday and took Sophie to see some of the ports along the bassin. Then we grabbed lunch and headed for the dune. After a quick but delicious picnic we joined the hoards of like-minded sun-seekers and began the climb to the top. As usual, once we made it up we walked along the top for a bit before heading down to the water. We managed to get our toes wet, but the water was still a bit to cold for a swim despite the warm temps and glaring sun. Then we began the grueling climb back over the dune so we could get back to our car. After all that hard work we decided we had definitely earned a drink, so stopped at a little cafe with a great view over the beach for a pint.
Next it was barbeque time and our friends didn't disappoint! There was enough food to feed an army and it was all delicious. We spent the evening enjoying good drinks and great conversation with a good group of friends and then headed to my in-laws' to get to bed so we could enjoy another day by the sea.
Sunday we spent the morning relaxing, enjoyed another barbeque for lunch at my in-laws', and then headed back to the beach with some friends for a bit more relaxation. And there sure were a lot of people who had the same idea!
Finally and unfortunately it came time to climb back in the car and fight the traffic back to Bordeaux. The 45 minute drive turned into 2.5 hours but we finally made it back, not quite ready to return to reality but happy with a very unexpected and last minute weekend that turned out to be perfect. Fun, relaxation and fresh air - just what we all needed!
Love Arcachon! But omg, that stretch of free way between Bordeaux and Spain is the bane of my existence! (Or maybe it comes in second after Nantes on my list of "least favorite places to drive in France"). I have to take it when I visit my customers in les Landes, and between all of the tourists, foreign cars and trucks heading South, it just about drives me bonkers.
ReplyDeleteYes Arcachon is really nice but I know how you feel about that stretch of highway headiing from Bordeaux down to Spain. It really is quite miserable and with all the truckers and in the summer with all of the vacationers it can just be hell!
DeleteA little fresh air and a change of scenery is something exactly what the doctor ordered!
ReplyDeletePrecisely...and it certainly doesn't hurt when the weather is incredibly beautiful either!
DeleteYou guys should get some gaufres next time, a must every time I head to Arachon!
ReplyDeleteBayyinah from Sincerely, B in Bordeaux
Never thought to check out the gaufres...we usually end up going for ice cream! Especially when the weather is nice.
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