You have chosen to come and stay in the Basque Country for several reasons and… you have made the right choice. That of not choosing between the beach, the ocean and the mountains.
That of discovering and immersing yourself in another culture, without crossing borders.
That of coming to meet us, to taste our cuisine, to hear our language and our songs, to appreciate the architectural beauty of our territory, to photograph our landscapes and above all to enjoy; to enjoy every moment.
But here, despite the postcard effect, we are not extras in a summer setting, our Basque Country is a living and vibrant territory, all year round. A territory that comes to terms with its qualities and its faults.
So we are happy to give you some background information and some tips to make your stay a great success.
Share the field and the rules of the game
On vacation, our mind escapes, disconnects and sometimes breaks free from the rules a little too easily. Knowingly or not. Come on, let’s admit it, we’ve all been through it.
Among the next lines of this text, there are basic rules and real information. This will seem a little surprising to you, but believe our experience, sometimes a reminder of these elements is very necessary…
Our coastline is magnificent but it is regulated:
- When we indicate that we must swim between the flags, it is not a question... or it is a question of respect and security, because not the MNS are not paid for the number of whistles blown to call people to order!
- Moreover, the flags which demarcate the bathing areas of bathers, body-boarders and surfers are not there to look pretty…
- The signs to indicate that the cliffs are fragile and dangerous are not there for decoration either, we would prefer to do without them, but there you go, it's a fact, you REALLY have to respect the 30 meter limit at the foot of the cliffs...
- Baïnes and changing tides are not legends, so be careful!
Our Basque Country is subject to weather that is as surprising as it is changeable:
- Here they say that when you see the Rhune it means it's going to rain, and when you don't see it it means it's already raining. So no need to watch the weather. Plus, it changes all the time 😉
- Brouillarta is not the name of a dish with Basque sauce, it is the name of a not very pleasant gust of wind which can ruin the atmosphere on the beach and make us lose 10 degrees in a few minutes. So when we say in the microphone “close the parasols”, well we have to close the parasols…
Traveling with us is like at home, you just have to use common sense:
- Station Waze which is not always right... Arriving in the center of Bidart in a 9m campervan and maneuvering in 14 steps in the parking lot is not an essential experience to have on vacation with us.
- Honking in Bidart neither helps traffic flow nor relaxes you... at best it serves to say hello and again!
Walking & respect for the environment:
- When there is a barrier, it is because the path stops or there is danger just behind it, there is no point in stepping over it...even for Instagram, we prefer to avoid drama…
- Butts are like any other garbage, they only belong once they are thrown in the right bin. (No, here too, a manhole is not a trash can and degrading rainwater... that's not great).
To finish :
Here, as you know, we are in a land of character that vibrates to the rhythm of the seasons and nature. It is also a territory imbued with a true culture and identity.
But here, it is above all a land that lives all year round. Its inhabitants welcome you and some observe you out of the corner of their eye.
Enjoy the holidays, open your eyes wide, get off the beaten track, be open, curious, and let yourself be guided. Take time, slow down and appreciate that it's here, and together, that we have an appointment.
