Beautiful Biarritz for Easter

I cannot believe how quickly the month of March went by! I was mostly working the whole month, but for Easter weekend, I went down to Biarritz with a few other assistants. We went down Friday morning since none of us work on Fridays, and we came back to La Rochelle Monday night since schools were off on Monday for the holiday.

Friday, March 25
Gabby and I took the bus to the train station in the morning, and we met Melissa there. Our train was at 8:12am, but it was so bright out that it felt much later out. Alex lives in Rochefort and our train stopped at Rochefort so he got on later. We had to change trains in Bordeaux and then we went down to Biarritz. We got in around 1pm and we took the bus to our airbnb. Then we grabbed sandwiches at the nearest bakery since it was almost 2pm and typically lunch is done at 2pm and then we wouldn't find anything to eat. We walked around the rest of the afternoon just checking out the town. It was cloudy and a little chilly with the wind that first day.

 Grand Plage, Biarritz

 Me, Alex, Melissa, and Gabby

Eglise Sainte Eugenie

I'm not sure why there was a little ship in Eglise Sainte Eugenie

Plage du Port Vieux

Paroisse Notre Dame du Rocher

Saturday, March 26

Today was the most beautiful day throughout the entire weekend. It was 70s and sunny all day! We started by walking to the lighthouse because there was a trail that goes from the lighthouse to the Virgin on the Rocks, which is on the other side of the Grand Plage. We left the airbnb around 10:30am and it was already warm outside and sunny. The trail goes past the beach so we stopped and sat there for about an hour until we went and got lunch. 

One of many big, beautiful buildings in Biarritz

the view from Pointe Saint Martin

 A sundial 

 Beautiful Biarritz

 le Phare de Biarritz (the lighthouse of Biarritz)

 walking the trail to the Virgin on the Rocks

 Another pretty view of the lighthouse

We made it to the beach! We walked down along the beach a while before sitting down and relaxing in the sun.

After lunch, we continued on the trail to see the Virgin on the Rocks.

the view of le Grand Plage from the other side.

 

 Beautiful Biarritz

looking out at the rocks and water

 some old anchors

 looking out on the Atlantic

 A reminder of the reason for this weekend.

I don't know how a little cross ended up on a rock in the ocean

 Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin on the Rock)

beautiful blue Biarritz

Since we stayed in an airbnb apartment, we had a kitchen, so we cooked dinner to save a little money. Then we went out to get a drink. It was super windy and a little rainy at night, but we didn't stay out late.

Sunday, March 27

Today we got up and took a bus to Bayonne. We weren't expecting much to be open or going on since it was Sunday and a holiday, but then we got there and they had their ham fair going on! It was also another beautiful day.

Nive River in Bayonne

 Streets of Bayonne

Cathédrale Sainte Marie de Bayonne

 Château Vieux de Bayonne

We sat in the sun in Fourcade Jacques Park for a while

 Ham Fair!!

 Bayonne really loves their ham!

We walked around and bought some ham sandwiches, which were delicious. There were several different bands playing on the streets, so we stood and watched them play. There was even a little parade. It become more crowded as the afternoon went on. We tried to visit the cathedral and cloister, but it closed after the service, and visits weren't aloud during service. Around 3pm we took the bus back to Biarritz.

The point where the Nive and Adour rivers meet in Bayonne.

Sitting on the beach. We didn't stay out for too long because there was a cool breeze and then clouds came and covered the sun. So we went back to the apartment and ate dinner and relaxed for a little while before going back to the beach to watch the sunset.

 There was less of a breeze when we came back to the beach, which was nice for sitting and watching the sunset.

 The tide was very high and the waves were crazier than anything I had ever seen before.

 Beautiful sunset

 Another picture of the sunset. I was playing with different settings on my camera to capture the beauty.

As the sun got lower, clouds covered it, so it was an anti-climatic sunset.

Monday, March 28

Today we got up and packed and cleaned the apartment. Our train wasn't until later in the afternoon, so we walked around a little bit and got lunch before getting our bags and going to the train station. I realize I didn't take any pictures today, but we also didn't see anything new. We had an hour connection in Bordeaux, so we just hung out in the train station. Then we got back to La Rochelle (Alex got off at Rochefort) around 9:40pm, and we walked home. I went to bed shortly after getting home because I had school the next day. 

It was a great weekend, and we were expecting it to rain the rest of the week in La Rochelle, but so far it has been nice! I can't believe I only have two more weeks left of work after tomorrow! Time is going by way too fast for me! I am just trying to enjoy the remainder of my time here.