Saturday May 31 - Atlantic Ocean - Pyla Sand Dunes - Arcachon Basin - Atlantic Ocean Towns - Day 31

We woke up with the sun and had breakfast with the Swedes and Brittany French couple.  The Swedes leave today.  Violaine said that they have many bikers from Scandinavia who stay at Chateau Real.  She said the Danish people leave their bikes everywhere, but the Norwegians have them exactly lined up and in order.  I told the Swedes that they did “pretty good” with lining up their bikes and they laughed.

We left about 9:30 for the Atlantic coast and the Pyla Sand Dunes (Dune du Pilat).  A pretty drive for almost 2 hours through many pine forests.  We left the vineyards behind.  We got to the sand dunes, parked, and walked to the bottom of one of the large dunes.  Pyla is the largest sand dune in all of Europe and extends 2 km long.  We've never heard about this place and enjoyed experiencing this - something truly off of the beaten path! 

They had stairs placed on the sand that we took to the top.  There was a beautiful view from the top.  We had our picture taken there and then walked back down on a path made in the sand.

The Pyla Sand Dunes - Dune de Pilat

A view from part of the way up looking back at the stairs on the right

Beautiful panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the dunes

We got to the top of the mountain!  At the Pyla Sand Dunes

The huge Pyla Sand Dunes

Laurent coming down the Pyla Sand Dunes (need to get rid of those extra pounds soon!)

We drove into Arcachon City – a fashionable city on the coast.  We had trouble finding a parking spot as all of the underground places were “Complet” but we found a spot on the street not far from the strip.  We walked around and found an ocean front table at Chez Victor.  We ordered different fish “plats” but the waitress suggested that we get a fish plateau that is popular – it had lots of fish filets, mussels, shrip, and langostines.  It was a huge platter and divine.  We had profiterole for dessert with coffee.  We walked around a short time and looked at some sand art by the boardwalk.  Then the clouds rolled in and it started to sprinkle before the big rains so we headed back to the car.

Part of our plateau of fish at Chez Victor - it was fabulous and filling

Sand art on the beach in Arcachon

Chez Victor where we had lunch overlooking the Arcachon Basis

 

We then drove by a fishing village – Gujan-Mestras.  The tide was out and all of the boats were sitting in the mud.  Amazing.

We headed north around the Arachon Basis to Lacanau-Ocean - a “Coney Island” sort of beach resort with ferris wheel, games of chance, play areas for tots, music, and lots of restaurants.  There is huge erosion at the beach and they had a big reclamation project underway.   We had some ice cream and walked around and then left.  We drove further north through lots of pine forests to Carcans-Plage – which was a smaller sea town and obviously a favorite with surfers.  We walked around and then left.

Then to Lacanau-Ocean which was a little like Coney Island - a huge ferris wheel

But the beach was washing away and they were working to reclaim it

Then to Carcans-Plage where there were lots of waves and surfers - a HUGE beach - very fine white sand

The large beach at Carcans-Plage

The small village of Carcans-Plage

We headed back to St Seurin and arrived about 7.  On the way we found a pizza place about 10 minutes from our B&B and decided we would come back later for a pizza as we were full from the large lunch.  Neither of us were even thinking about food at this point.

We had a glass of wine on the patio and a little after 8 headed out to get our pizza.  Violaine had told me that the pizza truck may be just around the corner at the port, but she called and it was closed.  So we headed to the pizza place we had seen on the way back from the beach.  It was only about 10 minutes from the B&B.  We arrived and parked and it had an “Open” sign up.  I approached the counter and the woman informs me in French that she has no dough to make pizzas!    Why is a pizza place open if they don’t have dough?  Tim was hungry by now and he gets cranky when he gets hungry.  Oh my, was he cranky and not happy. 

So I drove us to Paulliac to get a pizza – about 15 minutes away.  We drove around and around and NONE of the pizza places were open.  So I drove along the waterfront and found a restaurant that had “Pizza” on their store front.  We parked the car and went in and they in fact made pizza.  Whew.  Tim was still unhappy.  We ordered a 4 Seasons and a Sicilian pizza.  We had a good glass of wine while we waited and that put Tim in a better mood.  Crisis avoided.  The pizzas came to us in a box, we paid, and left.

Back to the B&B – it was after 10 pm by now and still light.  We had a bottle of Chateau Loudenne wine with our pizza on the terrace at Chateau Real.  It was so good.  I sat out on the patio until about 10:45 and just took it all in.  What fun staying in Chateau Real and experiencing Bordeau as we have.  Tomorrow on to the Loire Valley.

What a FABULOUS trip and experience we are having!  Thank you, Emilie.