OK, so you’re all enjoying the Australian beaches in hot spring weather (or not)….

but we also have ours , and though it’s autumn and raining and cold and windy, we also like to enjoy a day at the beach.

Le Cap Ferret is west of Bordeaux on the point of land between the Bassin d’Arcachon  and the Atlantic Ocean.

Arcachon is a very popular resort town on the south shore of the Bassin and was originally a fishing village surrounded by salt marshes. When the railway was extended here from Bordeaux the area was developed as the first health spa in France. That was in 1852 when the resort was officially opened by Napoleon III. Then the wealthy flocked here and built their 'belle epoque' villas surrounded by gardens. Today the town is filled with designer shops and modern apartment complexes – as these places so often are. Tens of thousands come here for their annual summer holidays, either staying in the town or in the many holiday camps in the area.

Le Cap Ferret on the other hand reminded us of the coast south of Melbourne around Sorrento, for those who know the area. Very private beach houses surrounded by high fences, and passed down through the family (so difficult to find anything for sale) and nothing flashy. The roads are narrow with no guttering and the houses are nestled down behind the coastal dunes under pine trees to protect them from the Atlantic storms. There are a couple of little village shopping strips with restaurants and smart shops, surf schools and boat sale yards. Lots of Range Rovers and Audis and the occasional Porsche parked in back streets, but just as many ordinary cars. Even at this time of year and on a sunday many of the shops and restaurants were open (unusual in France).

Cafe Ricardo for a great lunch by the fire.....

these houses look like they could be in Australia, don't they ?

On the Bassin side you can see the oyster beds and Arcachon in the distance and the Ile des Oiseaux , a bird sanctuary, in the middle of the basin. The water is actually quite shallow and when the tide goes out it really ‘goes out’.

Not the best weather for the beach...

so we headed inside for tapas by the fire in a cozy little cafe where a group of young locals enjoyed a drink at the bar while they waited for their pizzas to take away - very civilised

On the other side there’s nothing but the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean.  This area is warmed by the Gulf Stream but that also means terrific storms. From the tip of the Gironde north of Bordeaux to Biarritz near the spanish border,  the Côte d'Argent  ( the silver coast) has around 120 kilometres of sandy beaches with very little in the way of villages. This is a very popular surfing area, and out of the summer high season is almost deserted.  I understand the area also has a couple of nudist holiday resorts for those who like an 'all over' tan.

and the storms roll in ...

Hope the weather is ok wherever you are…

Bon week-end mes amis