Bonjour Biarritz

As a delayed Valentine's Day gift (and also because he is just incredibly kind) my Reading Guy suggested that we make a day trip to a popular nearby town just across the French border!

Can't say no to that, right?

Biarritz is a lovely little coastal town and is widely known
(around these parts anyway)
to be the French counterpart to San Sebastian
(the wonderful little Basque town that we currently call our home).

So, of course we had to see what all of the fuss was about and we hopped into a mini rental car and drove north up the Basque coast for a mere 30 kilometers...

I am happy to report that all the hype is entirely merited;

Biarritz is indeed breathtaking, and certainly worth a visit--or two!

Okay, okay! So, it is totally NOW on the list of places where I would't mind settling down...

I'll be the first to admit that I have a fickle heart, but can you really blame me?

Just look at this place!

With its palpable French sophistication...

Sunny disposition...

Historic charm...

And its beaches stretching farther than the eye can see...

I was very quickly all but obsessed!

Reason number 875 to love Biarritz:

It is even home to a former palace belonging to the Emperor Napoleon III and his love!

Oh, to be an Empress...

The palace now serves as one of the top ten most prestigious hotels in the world--whatever that means?

Oh yeah! It means that a night spent here will set you back about $1,000. 

During the off-season.

 And most likely in a broom closet.

Kidding---but just barely...

Inspiring cathedrals are also ever present...

And sweet treats are not exactly difficult to come across, 

a fact that would ordinarily please me beyond measure...

But it bears mentioning that I officially gave up sweets for Lent 

(which has proven to be much more difficult of a challenge for me than I care to admit)... 

And I swear this is the only reason that I am writing this post from my Spanish living room and not from a French bakery while nibbling on some freshly baked macaroons! 

Can I get an amen?

Well, that's all from Biarritz folks!

I hoped you enjoyed our little tour of the town that played host not only to our dropped tourist-y jaws, but maybe even more importantly...

To much antiquing!

I can't wait to share all of the fun with you when we meet again--

Au revoir mon ami!

XO,