Our first foray exploring the area around Arcachon Bay
September 2, 2012 58 Comments
The little princess gathering oyster shells on the shores of Arcachon Bay (Cap Ferret)
Heading to the west coast of France further down Brittany proved to be a pleasant surprise. For one, it was not as busy as what we had experienced the previous year in the South of France. Even at the height of the summer season, there was enough room to move around.
Our camping place in Lege, Cap Ferret was a location where we had the best of two worlds — the mighty Atlantic Ocean with its wide empty beaches on one side and the Arcachon Bay on the other which is ringed by many quaint oyster fishing villages.
On our first foray to explore the area around Arcachon Bay, we wanted to see the lighthouse in Cap Ferret but Francesca was more excited to check out the beach. She immediately headed to the water and before soon, was taking her clothes off to be able to swim. Unfortunately, it was low tide and still a bit chilly and we were not prepared with towels and all that so we promised her that that was something that we will do another time.
We then embarked on a search for a restaurant to have lunch but got a bit sidetracked by the wet market that we passed by which as always, charmed me to bits. I could have stayed there forever ogling the fresh produce especially the seafoods that I normally don’t get to see in Holland. My mind was already churning with ideas as to how I would prepare those crabs, lobsters and shrimps which I really miss from my life in the Philippines. Unfortunately, my two bosses were getting so impatient and hungry that we have to stick back to the plan of finding a restaurant for lunch. I thought that we would return to the market before we head back to our camp.
We found a simple restaurant with seafood as its specialty in the town centre. For starter, we shared the pate which was great with the fresh bread. For the main course, the Mr. had mussels and fries while I settled for the lovely sauteed squid served with rice and fennel. Our little girl who’s very picky only had bread and fries as well as her fave chocolate ice cream with lots of whipped cream. The Mr. and I again shared the dessert of tiramisu.
We went back to the wet market after lunch but unfortunately, it was already closing. I was very disappointed especially as I already had dinner figured out in my head. We then dropped by the supermarket and had to make do with the seafood display they had. I settled for a kilo of sardines which for dinner I fried and served with boiled rice and salad.
Arcachon Bay on a cloudy day which would later clear up
The little princess with her haul of oyster shells
Giving her haul of oyster shells to her father for safekeeping
Excitedly rushing to the water
Time to go swimming
A little stop at the playground near the beach
Waiting for our order at the restaurant
Fresh bread
Very yummy “Pate de maison”
Mussels and fries
Sauteed squid served with rice and fennel
Tiramisu
Chocolate ice cream with whipped cream
Savoring her ice cream
She charmed the waiter at the restaurant so she got this foldable hat as a present
She got sidetracked by this picture
Father and daughter
Flower of passion fruit
Dill flowers
Peach colored oleanders
One of the many blooms common in the area
Supermarket scene — langostines
Supermarket scene – snails
Supermarket scene – lobsters
Supermarket scene – crabs
Supermarket scene – lobsters
Supermarket scene – lobsters
Supermarket scene – sardines
Supermarket scene – crabs
Supermarket scene – shrimps
Supermarket scene – oysters
Supermarket scene – squid
Supermarket scene – snails
Supermarket scene – mackerels
Supermarket scene – fish
Supermarket scene – 1-kilo steak cuts
Supermarket scene – dried sausages
About Malou
The photos of the seafood makes me realize how much I miss that also. Living in a landlocked area of the US means the seafood is not fresh…..looking forward to moving to the Pacific Northwest next year!!
Wow, the Pacific Northwest must be a wonderful place to move to.
Great photos!
Thanks a lot, sohojay.
As always your photos are spectacular!!!
Thanks a lot, Juliana.
Very interesting place to visit. You as always have a great narration and pictorials. Great job Malou! Your princess is getting more and more beautiful! Enjoy your life!
Thank you. I can certainly recommend this place. The Atlantic coast (which I will feature in the upcoming posts) is simply spectacular.
Enjoyed a glimpse into a world completely different from ours. Thanks
Glad to know that you enjoyed a glimpse into this world.
One-kilo steaks? That’s an amazingly huge cut, even over here in the U.S.
Yes, pretty huge piece and must be great on the grill.
Lovely pictures of food! I am waiting for breakfast and now even more starving. Our crabs here in the Pac NW look much different from these. Also, no snails at fish markets. Not much appetite for them here since we spend all day removing them from our garden! (Not sure they’re the kind that are edible, anyway.)
Thanks a lot, Cheryl. I’m no big fan of snails but I love all the other stuffs.
I can see why you were so excited about the wet market. Beautiful!
I feel as if I was there with you.
Thank you for sharing.
Mmmmmmm……….ALL the food looked incredibly delicious!! Thanks for the trip!
You can never go wrong with French food. Everything is yummy (except the snails and frog legs for me).
The beach and the food look amazing. Love Francesca’s smiling, carefree face “time to go swimming”. Ah to be young again. Lovely photos!
Food is always a delight out there and the beach is such a magnet for kids.
Excellent photos. I really like the shots of the market.
Thanks a lot. These are actually pictures inside the supermarket. The wet markets are even nicer with their goodies. Too bad that I wasn’t able to take pictures of that.
All right, Malou…now you’ve made me hungry for seafood…and it’s not even noon here in Chicago! Wonderful images, and Princess certainly has grown over the summer, hasn’t she?
Same here, I am now just drooling over the seafoods when I think of those wonderful days in France.
Yes, little girl is growing up so fast.
Arcachon – miles and miles of sandy beaches – have spent many holidays in Biarritz and have been on the beaches a couple of times, just up the road, coupe of hours drive. You have brought pack load of memories – all the wonderful photos and your writing.
The little princess enjoys her desserts and there is nothing so good as mussels and chips. Thanks for bringing me along on your holiday with the Atlantic Ocean and fresh seafood.
From what I’ve seen of West France along the coast, I can only imagine that Biarritz must be such a lovely place. I wish we had more time in the area but a week was just too short to see everything that is on offer out there. I enjoyed the seafoods and the seemingly relaxed atmosphere there compared to glitzy South of France.
Biarritz is beautiful and tiny – walk through the city in less the 40 min. From one end to the other – black rock and high waves. There will be more chances. A week isn’t that much time to play with. Yes, the Atantic coast is a lot more relaxed and the seafood taste a lot better because of the cold water.
Reblogged this on French Heritage Association.
I wonder if I can sneak into one of your suitcases…LOL
Always lovin’ your adventures!
Sure, you can Rosy.
Beautiful young girl. Great photographs. My husband and I love the Frnce Coast. The images make me anxious to return.
Thanks a lot. Glad to know that we share the same love for the French coast. Simply stunning.
Wonderful photos. I have seafood envy. Must get to the fishmonger this week
Thanks a lot, EllaDee.
so nice
Thanks a lot, mix & match ‘em.
Looks good! Enough variety to make paella!!!
True, all the ingredients there are easy to find.
I’ve been there last year I went there to buy some seafoods and I forgot to bring my camera with me.
I miss that place nice beach too. Good pictures by the way.
Oh, I know the feeling. I also had that experience going to another supermarket and they have shark so I only had a picture taken with my mobile phone. I was so surprised at this shark meat find and being the Bicolana that I am, my mind was churning with ideas of “kinunot”.
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Thanks a lot for this nomination, Sally. Very much appreciated.
Looks wonderful. And the seafood! Gorgeous!
Thanks a lot. I guess you will always have plenty of ideas on how to prepare these seafoods.
So beautiful – I wanna go there
Go, go, go, Jenny!
Definitely one day!
What a great trip and lovely photos!
Thanks a lot. Yes, it was a trip that we truly enjoyed to the hilt.
Oh, the seafood pictures look so good!
I now feel the sudden urge to cook a big seafood feast!
Leave it to the French to always have all the best stuffs especially the seafood.
Again, beautiful photos and looks like a really lovely time!!
Thanks a lot, Lucinda.
Great Photos Malou, seems like having a wonderful time with your family. your daughter is grown since the photos of Tulips.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful time with us.
Thank you. We indeed had a wonderful time and our little girl is growing up so fast we can hardly keep up.
I just love that area! How about that GiGanTIC sand dune?
Wonderful place, Wendy. We did not go to the Dune du Pilat but we loved the beach along the Atlantic which also had quite impressive dunes.
Look at your little princess! She’s so adorable! And wow, that Tiramisu and the mussels looked fantastic!
Thanks a lot, Ducky. She just loves the water these days. Food in France is always a delight huh!