Biarritz – Where Archaic And Contemporary Come Across

-
Biarritz is known as the ‘Pearl of the Basque’.  Biarritz is to be found in the Bay of Biscay, a famous town in the Pyrenees Atlantic Coast in southern France.  Biarritz is uniquely located at the border of Bayonne (in France) and Anglet (in Spain).
Welcome to Biarritz, Southern France  
A place where if you are lucky, you may bump into
Royal families, celebrities, the bold and the beautiful!
Everyone wants to be seen here!
Biarritz has been just a small town popularly known for its whaling industry before Empress Eugenie the wife of Napoleon III was devoted to the beach in the middle of the 20th century.  It was because of her, Napoleon III built an enormous house on the beach and named it ‘Eugenie Village’.  But today, this huge house has turned into the Hotel du Palais, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world!  And, a tribute to Empress Eugenie, this little town has become the apex and chic summer resort in France.  Since then, Alfonso XIII, Queen Victoria, Edward VII and the British Royal families have made it a tradition to be in Biarritz for their summer holidays - until to this very day.  
The beach that had 'charmed' Empress Eugenie ... and me
and maybe you ...!
Biarritz is very popular for its breathtaking coast and the rocks in the sea.  It has a long sandy beach and this is where the major surf resorts can be found.  You might be wondering what are the things to do when you are in Biarritz.  Well, just to name a few for instance learning the Latino dance, visiting many historical monuments and museums, golf! (Biarritz 'houses' 12 world-class golf courses!) and the most significantly - surfing!
Now, let us 'surf' Biarritz ... 
The best place for surfers!
‘Biarritz Surf Festival’ takes place in July every year.  I was told that during this season, Biarritz will be super jam-packed with more than 100,000 surfing fans and most of the best surfers of the world.
Biarritz has established more than ten surfing schools for beginners and
'seasoned' surfers to improve and perfect their skills
One of the dramatic spots that I like in Biarritz!
This is Eglise St Martin - the oldest building in Biarritz built in 1100s.
You shall never miss these iconic buildings when you are in Biarritz!
- 'La Phare' - a lighthouse built by British residents in 1888.  
The entrance fee is €2
... and the Russian Orthodox Church - built by the
Russian 'upper crust' in 1917
This is a small and secluded beach area of the
Esplanade du Porte Vieux - the place for swimming
when the surfer's beach is closed for 'Biarrtiz Surf Festival'
or due to bad weather.

As I strolled around town,  I came across the fascinating
yet inquisitive history of Biarritz ...
...that has its own charming character ...
.. And it holds a mix of styles and brings these ancient... 
... and contemporary structures together!
This is the facade of one of the many interesting hotels ... 
As I walked further, I stumbled upon this doorway
 - an instance of an old testament
The archetypical entryway of houses in Biarritz
and most European cities.
A nice place to hang out... And I have been wondering... 
"Errr.. Don't these people work?"... It seemed that
life has been so cushy! 
Biarritz is also famous for ... shopping, people! 
Especially shoes!!
I am so glad that I am not 'allergic' to
shopping and shopping malls! ha! ha!
If not ... 'he! he! mana mau lari hah?!' 
I would rather spend my moment in time ..... here!
(These are the rocks that formed a bridge in the sea)
... with mother nature ...
This is where I stood during the sunset on the Virgin Mary Bridge
in the middle of the sea ... thinking and become realized that ...
God's gifts are freely being given and if I have missed one of them,
I should not despair.  Maybe God has spared me from
certain misfortunes! Subhanallah!
(p/s if you go straight forward from here - you may reach New York!)
And ... where do we go from here, my Captain? ... :))
Biarritz is a wonderful place, many great activities and this city never sleep with ever joyful people.  I really hope that in years to come Biarritz is still one of the best holiday destinations, as when archaic and contemporary come across, they created a miraculous place to be ..... to unwind .......................

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Madinah Al Munawwarah – Penghayatan Terindah

-
Image
Assalamualaikum ... Wahai Rasulullah SAW … Kami datang ke kotamu, kota yang bercahaya, Madinah Al Munawwarah, tempat termulia dengan sebaik-baik kedatangan.  Madinat Al Nabi, gedung iman dan disinilah iman mampu bertahan hingga ke akhir zaman, tempat terakhir didunia yang akan diruntuhkan.  Semoga Allah SWT menerima kebaikan amalan kami ...   “Dengan nama Allah dan di atas agama Rasulullah.  Ya Tuhanku, masukkanlah aku ke dalam pintu kebenaran dan keluarkanlah aku ke pintu kebenaran.  Ya Allah, selawat dan rahmat ke atas Junjungan Nabi Muhammad dan ke atas keluarga Nabi Muhammad.  Dan ampunilah dosa-dosaku dan bukakanlah pintu-pintu rahmat Engkau padaku dan masukkanlah aku ke dalamnya, wahai Tuhan Yang Maha Pengasih Lagi Maha Penyayang” Coretanku ini dimulai dengan selawat dan salam ke atas Penghulu sekelian alam. Ketika Rasulullah SAW tiba di Yathrib (nama sebelum ditukarkan ke Madinah), Baginda Rasul menerima banyak undangan untuk tinggal di rumah pendudu...
Read more

Dubai – Are You Thinking What I Am Thinking?

-
Image
So here we are!  Dubai!  Honestly, what really crosses your mind when I mentioned Dubai?  What do you expect from this one of the most urbanized cities on earth?  How do you ‘recognize’ Dubai?  Ah-ha! I knew it! Shopping! Wahoo! You are absolutely right.  Yes! This is the haven for Shopaholics! But you are absolutely wrong if you think that I am going to enlighten you on how or what to shop here, dude! Anyway, I never have any doubt that Dubai can seriously offer ‘damage’ to your wallet (but it's worth it, though!) ha-ha! Nah ! A glimpse of Dubai in the morning! A view of Dubai at night ... :)) Whenever I am in Dubai, I never stop being astonished.  Who might think that from the plateaus of the desert, Dubai has changed to be overwhelmed by ‘cloud-capped’ buildings?  Who might think that from dry land, Dubai can be proud of its world’s tallest water slide?  Aaaannnd ... check this out – who might think that from camel riding, ...
Read more

Abu Dhabi – From Tribal Society To The Standing In The Eyes Of The World!

-
Image
Abu Dhabi (means ‘Father of the Gazelle’) was found when a gazelle showed the way to a rambling tribe to fresh water on an island.  Yup! Abu Dhabi is actually an island.  Abu Dhabi is enclosed by 300 islands that are spread out all over the main island.  Nevertheless, most of the islands are unpopulated ; however, it has its own natural history – flat and sandy. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Located approximately 400km from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. By plane, it took us about one hour, by road it took us about five hours (including two check points at the border; and if it is not crowded during festive seasons!) to reach Abu Dhabi With villages around, the more fertile oases, this place WAS based on pearl diving, fishing and date palm cultivations for its economy.  Abu Dhabi WAS an empty desert inhabited by Bedouin tribes, once upon a time … The discovery of oil in 1958 has unquestionably brought a ' radical tr...
Read more