I cannot remember now quite what the background to this holiday was – I have a feeling that we studied where we could have a holiday using a BA companion voucher and so probably travelled here for not very much money at all.
A B&B was found close to Arcachon and we hired a car to be able to get around for the week – although we used the railway on one of the days. The surrounding area had a variety of attractions which kept us busy whilst we were there. Better advance research would probably have found more but I mention this below.
Having arrived on the Saturday on the Sunday we headed to a local market for some bits and pieces and to see a little of the countryside and for me a chance to get used to driving on the right (which is not something I do regularly) and to getting a feel for the local area in terms of traffic and similar. We planned on eating out somewhere at lunchtimes most days and then having a quiet evening to do some reading.
The rest of the week is busier – the area is noted for the marine life (or so we understood before coming) but we find that currently the oyster and other marine activities are off the agenda due to pollution of the sea and there are no local supplies of shellfish due to those marine problems – which is disappointing for me if not Jackie.
One of the mornings was spent visiting a major local ornithological reserve where we had nice walk – but the more exotic birds were even further away. It is an extensive site and we should probably have planned to spend longer there than we had allowed before our booked lunch in Gujan-Mestres which is normally a major oyster fishing location. It remained an attractive harbour to wander around – and there would normally be many eating places with very fresh catches – but all closed up today.
On one day we took the train into Bordeaux – driving in a large town and finding parking space is not always simple so it was easier to catch the direct electric train with some elegant electrification masts. Bordeaux is an attractive city and a major location to visit is the Cité du Vin which was a very pleasant way of spending a couple of hours (and using the train meant that drink could be consumed). Our lunch was in a basement as I recall and we certainly ate well today.
Another day was spent visiting Cap Ferret (note not Cap Ferrat which is a long way away in Southern France) but is a long peninsula the other side of Arcachon Bay. Only when we were driving over the rails did I become aware of a local railway – which we did not use but shows I should have undertaken more research! The railway crosses the narrow peninsula from the local town to the beach.
A further major attraction is Dune du Pilat which is the largest sand dune in Europe. Less welcome to Jackie because of all of the sand. We then go into Arcachon and wander along the front to decide on where to take lunch. As with our other choices on this holiday we were able to enjoy an excellent meal.
On one day we stayed at the B&B to do some reading and resting and merely go into the town centre for lunch. Even there our meal is pretty good – but then we are in France.
On the Saturday morning before our return flight we headed up to the North West of Bordeaux into the Margaux area for a lunch where we were entertained by a group of wine growers celebrating their excellent wines and enjoying a decent meal. The sun was warm and it was a lovely end to the week. The entire week was a pleasant gentle time.