Biarritz

Checked out at 11 am. and back at 2 pm. after a 5 km walk along the sea promenade, taking in the views. In 1660 King XIV, the Sun King, married a Spanish princess Maria Therese (who at age 21 was reported one ugly with only 3 teeth!) thus ending the wars between France and Spain… in the small town, just a stone throw from here called St Jean de Luc. We are just 22 km from the Spanish border. Napoleon III, in addition to remodeling Paris, designed Biarritz to be a major destination for the 17 and 18th centuries of the upper crust, and since the 1950’s a surfing culture has developed. It is very clean, and although some of the original concrete and pavement is weathered in the charming Eutopean way that makes trips easy, it is a prosperous looking place. We took in the central market and then walked the long promenade with its beachfront views passing through the old fishing port then via a pedestrian bridge out to the rocks with its statue of the Mary. A quick break at the B and B, and we were off by bus and our meet-up with the Rick Steves tour.Leia mais