Last month someone asked about what do do en route to SS from Paris. We just did a quick down the A10, N10 with an overnight stop in Archachon to walk on Europe's biggest sand dune. Kept seeing signs to chateau towns, but kept going...guess the semi French family had seen enough castles AND they're always MILES away from the sign. If you have the rick book of france take a look at the Pays Basque section. Now back in our Paris suburb village I am so homesick for St Jean de Luz!! Mountains (foothills) and the ocean. Great food, charming villages, churches that are not "everyday" and Spain is just down the road. Dis not have the rick book with us on the day of our hotel search but ended up staying at one of his recommendations..Hotel de la Plage..a bit pricey, but includes breakfast and staff was super gentile..plus it was my birthday season so paid extra for balcony..i love balconies. We spent a lot of time at Place Louis 14 (weather was good), long walks on the seaside promenade, drives into the countryside, drive to Biarritz (not a highlight for most people, though a surfer paradise) where i had the best ever hot scallop shrimp salade in front of the church with ocean view. Also went to 830am sunday mass at St Jean-Baptiste.."bi lingual" mass..In French and Euskara/Basquaise..up in the highest balcony..The only Rich resto we went to was the Petit Grill Basque Chez Maya (that's Rick...i'm too lazy to correct)..Not expensive, but crowded mid week, off season. Staff not smiley at first, but they loved being asked about secret ingredients in the tomato sauce and were charmed that the woman who doesn't care for sweets ate all her flan.
RE/ San Sebastian..I could have spent the whole day eating sandwiches at the Bideluze café/bar, Plaza Guipuzcoa, 14, but husband wanted to try others. Be warned..smoking still allowed
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
Sounds great Regina--we drove through St Jean de Luz when we stayed in San Sebastian--it looked really interesting. Now I know that if we return, we should spend more time there! thanks and Happy Birthday!
Posted by
San Leandro, CA, USA
632 posts
That's exactly what I want to do...we are planning on 3 weeks, starting in Paris...then down the west coast of France (via car), staying where ever we find an intesting town...then into the Basque country (both French and Spanish)...ending up in San Sebastian (with a side trip to Pamplona and Bilboa, and maybe Santander). We are fortunate here in the Bay area to have one of the great Basque restaurants in the US...I intend to find a lot more like it.