Welcome to Biarritz

For our first wedding anniversary, we went to Biarritz for a weekend of surf, sea & love :)

I've wanted to go to Biarritz since so long & I've not been disappointed, I loved it so much, I thought it looked like a little Sydney ;)

We arrived late morning & after having left our luggage at our new home for the weekend, Villa Sanchis a bed & breakfast set in a beautiful house, run by a French-Swedish family.

we headed straight to the Côte des Basques beach in search of waves & lunch.

Let me tell you, the view from above the Côte des Basques beach is something...

For the waves we didn't have so much luck as Biarritz is best to be surfed at high tide & we were told to wait until the next morning for surfing.

Honestly, this whole thing about tides is quite annoying if you ask me...

On the other hand for lunch, we've been luckier.

There was a music festival, Les Casetas, on the Côte des Basques beach & several food & drink stands were lined up in front of the ocean.

We sat in front of the beautiful view, sipping on some sangria, while waiting for our main dishes to arrive.

Unfortunately, before we could start eating, a heavy rain came.

We run inside the stand & had lunch there, a lot less nice than sitting in front of the ocean. So you will excuse-me if I forgot to take any pics of the nevertheless very good burger & skewers we shared ;)

On the good side, after lunch, the rain slowed down & we could have a walk to Biarritz main beach.

We passed several little coves - that's where I've been remembered of the walk from Bondi to Coogee in Sydney *sad emoticon here - as I want to go back to Australia so badly!!*.

We admired the well known Rocher de la Vierge

& we continued our walk

passing the port & the beautiful Sainte Eugenie church, where a couple was getting married <3

until the main beach

which we thought was much nicer than the Côte des Basques beach. We went to the surf shop & talked with the girl there, that was also nicer than the guy from the other surf shop & we decided to go there surfing the next morning :)

Happy to have solved our surfing situation, we came back to the hotel to change ourselves before dinner.

Being so close to Spain, I searched my best friend Google for the best place to eat tapas & Goole suggested Puig & Daro.

Strolling the nice streets of the town center

we arrived at this cute tapas place

Puig & Daro was a real good pick! Yet all the waiters were super kind, there were so many tapas, I don't even know how I've been able to choose, they have very good wines - & sangria of course - & they also have sweet tapas for dessert!

You can choose among the all mouthwatering tapas they have & compose your own tapas plate or order a pre-made selection.

Cheers! :)

It was actually quite cold at night, so as soon as a table inside become available, we switched from the terrace to the inside.

The only bad thing about this place is that inside there's a terrible light for pictures. Really. Terrible. 

So now you know why my tapas pictures are ugly... But they were so yummy that I still have to show you ;)

Green chili peppers - my favorite! - & cheese croquettes

Mixed toasts & verrines 

& the local specialty: small squids

 Of course, we couldn't not to taste the sweet tapas! It was the first time I saw sweet tapas ;)

If you are in Biarritz or around, you should really go to Puig & Daro one night!

& btw, I have other places to tell you about in Biarritz & surroundings, more to come in the next posts! :)

xx

Sunset in Essaouira

I've heard a lot of things about Essaouira before going there: the white city - because of the white wall surrounding it, the windy city - well, because of the strong winds... I've heard about the blue fishing boats & the seagulls... But I've heard nothing about its sunsets...

Although, in my opinion, it's something the city should be known for...

Don't you think? :)

To watch the sun disappear into the Atlantic ocean & the sky become bright red, while listening to the crushing waves, is a unique picture every night...

I do love sunsets & I do love being by the sea, so for me sunset hours in a seaside place are like the best thing in the world.

Where to watch the sunset in Essaouira :

But where to go in Essaouira to enjoy the sunset show, preferably with a drink in your hand?

I'm afraid that for that, I have to suggest some of the touristy places I usually try to avoid... But sometimes it worth it to make an exception to the rule ;)

• Beach & friends: directly on the beach, just next to Explora surf school, a beautiful restaurant & bar where you can relax on the comfy sofas & sunbathing on the deck-chairs, sheltered from the wind, while enjoying the view.

But it's at sunset that the place really worth it. Facing the sea & Mogador island, you'll have the most wonderful view in front of you

while drinking a beer & savor some nibbles

^local beer Casablanca was really tasty. Cheers! :)

^not the most local food ;p but sitting there after our last surf session of the day, was a real pleasure!

Camels were enjoying sunset with us ;)

• Taros: on the main square, the several terraces of Taros offer a fabulous view over the harbor, the ocean & the old city's roofs. 

Bands play live music every night & there's a relaxed & young atmosphere.

As well as a lot of people, especially at sunset,  so you may want to arrive early to have a table & be ready to share half of your table with other guests.

Grab a beer, some olives

Admire Moulay Hassan square & the giant fresco from Italian artist Giacomo Bufarini aka RUN.

He painted the biggest fresco of North Africa - 5.000 sqm - in February in occasion of the Marrakech Biennale.

It represents 2 human beings - not women nor men - standing on the opposite sides of a river, talking to each other to symbolize communication among people.

Have a look at the medina & the port from above

While waiting for the sky to turn red

& the show to begin

So what do you think about sunset in Essaouira? ;D