Chronicles of the building of a new home, life around the area and beyond … say what I think and express what I feel … for 'Life is too short to drink bad wine …' :-)
Biarritz is right at the South of France, in the Basque country, about 30 mins by bus to the Spanish border. Flight from London took about 2 hours. Its a nice little town with a nice coastal view only bettered by San Sebastian, which I’ll show in the pictures later in the Spain section. History has it that it was in the mid-19th century that Victor Hugo discovered Biarritz. What was a charming fishing harbour in the Basque country has since developed into a seaside resort to attract tourists. Key activities here are sports such as golf and surfing, anchored by a casino (which was rather dead when I visited). We only stayed here for a day, and took a bus out to San Sebastian the next day to begin our trip through the north of Spain. 🙂
Biarritz Tourism Office
Stairs leading to the Hostel
The hostel called Villa Etche Gorria
View from Hostel Room
Biarritz Beach by Night Walked up to the light house at the end of the beach to get a view of the coast. Was very nice, as you can see … but you ain’t seen San Sebastian yet … 🙂
Grabbed a beer while waiting for the bus to San Sebastian. Was very sunny yet cool. Perfect mediterrean autumn weather. Can’t ask for more 🙂
London is expensive and gloomy, but it is a heaven for art lovers and those who enjoy the good life. North of Spain, the Basque region, Asturias and Galicia, has some of the nicest sights, sounds, and tastes that I have ever come across and will remember for a long time. South of France is picturesque, and being able to travel with my long time friends as well as making new ones was a huge bonus. Lastly, Paris. Nothing to shout about, really. But a beautiful city nonetheless. Here’s my story … Start of travels: Oct 27, 2004 End of travels: Nov 18, 2004
London, United Kingdom
Sok and I were suppose to meet Weng in London. However, he informed us only one day in advance before we left that he wasn’t able to make it there to meet us. We were a little flustered, because if that was the case, we would have flown straight into Spain as London was never on our agenda. It was made better, in a sense, that Weng had booked us on a promotion that Ryanair had, which allowed us to fly from London to Biarritz for free, save having to pay for airport taxes to the tune of about 20 quid each. So we forgave him … largely also due to the fact that we still needed his place for accomodation when in France *grin* London is cold and gloomy most of the time. The walkways downtown are also very narrow and full of people. Not a very enchanting city. But the musuems and art collections here are second to none. We visited the British Musuem, National Art Gallery, Natinal Portrait Gallery and Tate Modern. I liked them ALL very much. Other highlights for me was getting to meet with Hwee Leng and family. Hwee Leng worked in EDBI for a while, where I got to know her. It was wonderful to catch up with them over lunch along the Thames at Chiswick. The weather that day was beautiful, sunny, and we could have a pub lunch outdoors facing the river. Can’t ask for more. 🙂 But London is an expensive city to live in. Just multiply the cost in Singapore by a factor of 3 for everything to pay for there, and you get the picture. Luckily since we were only there for 3 days, it wasn’t too bad for us. Just more pub grub. 🙂 Check out some of the pictures in the photo album …
Outside the B&B where we stayed. Nice and quiet, just opposite some campus buildings belonging to University of London.
Outside the Brit Museum
nside the Brit Museum. Loads of ancient Egyptian artifacts were not baracaded so kids were touching and climbing all them, people sitting on them talking over the phone, etc. The security guards just stood by and did nothing. I wander if they would do the same if it were their own historical artifacts, though … blantant disrespect for another county’s history and cultural heritage. *Sigh*
More evidence of people knocking / hitting against these treaures …
Westminster Cathedral
Just off Big Ben, we could see the London Eye. Did not go up due to long queue and didnt think it was worth it. 🙂
No. 10 Downing Street Photo with the guard who was quite jolly 🙂
Trafalgar Square Famous place next to with Church of St. Martins and the National Galleries.
Church of St. Martin It was friday, when they normally held free lunchtime concerts, so caught a piano recital by American pianist Ronald Hawkins who was playing that day. Was a lovely concert. He played pieces by Bach, Peter Ware (I’ve never heard of), Liszt and De Falla, from which he played the ritual fire scene from El Amor Brujo that I really liked.
Cafe at The Crypt Bumped into Mr Hawkins after his performance at the cafe in the basement (crypt) of the church 🙂
Streets along Portobello Market To illustrate what I meant by a sizable crowd …
Pub lunch along the Thames – Chiswick Chiswick, east of central London, along the Thames, where Hwee Leng and family brought us for some pub lunch. Weather was good, so we ate outdoors at the benches. Was great! 🙂
Hyde park
Camden Market Drinking mulled wine … was nice to have some of that as it was rather cold that morning despite the sun being out now and then … feels great!
Living In And Around Happy Street 