Today's weather was ideal for touring Biarritz. We started off by purchasing bus passes at a local tabac, then made our way toward Les Halles, a market in the city center. Students got a chance to purchase fresh produce, handmade jewelry, and handmade handbags at a discount (thanks to Ingrid, who is a host mother to two of our students.) Our second stop was in the église St. Eugénie, a stunning neo-Gothic church in Biarritz's city center. We then walked a few steps to my favorite glacier, where students were treated to a glace of their choice. We continued on our path to the Casino Municipal, which was built the same year the stock market crashed. It's style is Art Déco and it can house more than 700 people in its grand théâtre. Before students were dismissed for some much-needed beach time, our tour culminated in a visit to the Hôtel du Palais. This monument is a testament to Napoléon's love of his Impress Eugénie. Following our tour, many of us continued on to see a panorama of Biarritz, Anglet, Bayonne, and Espagne from le phare, the lighthouse. The view was definitely worth climbing the 230+ steps.
Jour 7 vendredi - Cinquième jour des cours
Today was dubbed the journée du chocolat. After class, we walked over to the Musée du Chocolat, where Maya, our wonderful tour guide waited for us with chocolat in hand. We nibbled on milk, dark, and white chocolate as we watched a film on the history of chocolate and how it made its way to the Basque region from Spain (through the port at Bayonne). Maya then gave us a guided tour of the sculptures that were made out of chocolate that the museum still houses, as well as a look at some of the early machinery that was used to produce it. The tour culminated with us sipping le vrai chocolat chaud - not the powdery stuff that many of us mix with water at home, but REAL hot chocolate. The students got a nice surprise once they finished sipping. They had a chance to become artistes themselves by participating in an atelier du chocolat. Serge Couzigou, creator of the museum and master chocolatier, was present during the atelier and complimented the artistic skills of our students. It meant the world to them, especially since he's Nicolas Sarkozy's personal chocolatier!
Jour 8 samedi - Deuxième excursion
Today was an ideal day to spend in the mountains. We met at 8:15 to take a bus to La Rhune in the Pyrénées. Once we arrived, we took a charming little train built in 1924 up the mountain. Students marveled at the views, as well as the native Pottok (Basque horses) that grazed all around us. They also had time to shop in the bentas, or markets at the summit, perfect their Spanish (you're in France when you board the train, but in Spain when you reach the summit), and reflect. After a few hours of hiking about La Rhune, we descended and headed to St. Jean de Luz. While there, some students flew kites, some students toured the maison Louis XIV, and others toured the beautiful church in the city center and shopped.
Jour 9 dimanche - Jour de repos
Today was a day of rest. Most students spent time on the beach, working on their tans and surfing.
Jour 10 lundi - Sixième jour des cours
Today was our first day of class in our new school. Following class, we went to the newly inaugurated Cité de l'Océan, which is a museum dedicated to the history and science of the ocean. Although there were a few power outages during our stay, many students enjoyed the interactive exhibits that the museum has to offer.
Check out the second phase of photos at the slideshow! A+.
