October 6
The school is taking us out of the country this time around; we’re taking a bus to France! It’s only two hours by bus, so we’re just going for the day to St. Juan de Luz and Biarritz, two towns on the coast of the Atlantic.
Quick geography lesson: the Basque Country that Bilbao resides in extends into France as well. There are three ‘provinces’ in France that have strong Basque influence, named Iparralde.
Since we stay near the coast, the climate doesn’t change that much. Like in Bilbao, it’s misty and cold in St. Juan de Luz. The town is on the small side, and the professors give us free time to walk through the market and shopping district.
Before we leave for lunch, we have the chance to walk through the church. And even though it may be much smaller than the others in Madrid and Toledo, something about this one is particularly beautiful.
Afterwards, we eat at a bull-fighting themed restaurant. Lunch consists of four courses; fish and red peppers, salad, roasted duck and, lastly, ice cream and apple tart. Of all the plates, the duck has to be the best. It’s tender, moist and practically fell off the bone. Even when preparing Spanish plates, the French know how to cook.
Afterwards, we take a scenic drive along a beachside road to get to Biarritz. This is more the size of Bilbao and the tour guide takes us through piers and tunnels before we’re giving more free time to explore.
As we walk along the beach, there is a stone bridge that leads to an ‘island’, complete with flourishing fauna and benches for sitting and listening to the tide. Just when I begin to think that this island would be the coolest thing Biarritz has to offer, our professor leads us through a stone tunnel to Côte des Basques.
Côte des Basques takes you further out into the sea than the other island, showcasing the magnificent turquoise color of the water when compared to the clear blue sky. There are street performers singing in French-I got a special rendition of These Boots Are Made For Walking-as well as tour guides explaining the significance of the area. Of course, it’s also the perfect spot to celebrate my Laker pride!
After we finish seeing the beach, we take some free time to do some shopping. Chocolatiers dominate the streets, and I can’t help but purchase a box of coffee-and-ganache chocolates. It takes all of my self-control to not eat them all at once!
It helps that a few minutes later, a friend and I purchase a type of dessert that can only be found in the Pais Vasco: Basque Cakes. They are filled with cream, soft in the middle, and slightly crunchy around the edges. Cinnamon is optional (my opinion is that it should be required!) and it’s best enjoyed with an after-dinner coffee.
We all board the bus shortly after, exhausted after having squeezed two towns into six hours. As we return back to Bilbao, I can see all the similarities between the two areas. Even though Biarritz and Bilbao are in two completely different countries, they both are more Basque than Spanish or French.
The Basque culture eclipsing everything else with such a bright and distinct feel, that it can make Spain and France feel like the same country. Just ask my friends; I kept speaking Spanish to all the shop workers, forgetting that I was no longer in Spain!
