August in Biarritz has been pretty dreamy. Brent and I have both been very busy with work this month so we’ve been staying local and enjoying lazy weekends at Château Grettenberger. Late Sunday morning breakfasts on the balcony, surfing and lounging at the beach, beachcombing, morning runs, exploring flea markets, and just taking in every bit of summer.
August 15th is a national holiday in France, L’Assomption de Marie, or The Assumption of Mary. Biarritz celebrates this holiday with a spectacular fireworks show just after sunset on the Grande Plage. Last year we watched from the beach with Brent’s parents, who were in town visiting, but this year we didn’t want to deal with the crowds so we enjoyed it over a glass of champagne (ok, maybe a few glasses) from our balcony. We had such a great view!
The downside to the month of August in Biarritz are ALL THE TOURISTS. I don’t blame them, obviously Biarritz is the place to be in the summertime (we’re so lucky!), but I’m pretty sure most of France, and a lot of Europe, is here this month. Some days I’ve walked down to the beach to lay out and it’s been so crowded that I’ve turned around and walked right back home. The grocery store is crowded, the market is crowded, the ATMs are out of cash, the roads are busy and it takes twice as long to get to work. Our cars have both been hit multiple times this month by tourists who don’t know how to drive or park on our tiny streets, and we spend way too much time looking for parking, when 9 months out of the year we normally get front row parking right in front of our house. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had a great month and I definitely don’t want summer to come to an end, but we’re really looking forward to August being over and all these tourists going home so we can get back to normal life, and not have to park 2 miles away from our house.
Only in Biarritz would you see a surfboard inside a Boulangerie!
My vintage finds from the Ahetze brocante, including a set of copper pots, a spritzer bottle, old road maps of France, cognac glasses, and this gorgeous embroidered dreamy woodland scene. Brent and I both loved it – we had to have it!
Here’s to hoping we can make the most of the rest of summer, and that the sun stays around just a little longer this year!