France

Yes, in France, there is no such thing as Spongebob, to them, he is known as Bob the Sponge. Doesn't exactly have the same ring to it. Anyway just thought I would start my blog off on that interesting note.

Been hard at work the past week, handing out CV's, opening up bank accounts and just making the most of my French citizenship. The surf has been really good, and I'm finally getting used to the two tides a day and being able to surf till around 10pm. Haven't managed to get down to the beach to take some shots of the surf but there's a photographer who takes pics of Anglet and Grand Plage for his website; here's some of the photos from the past few days;

yes this is France;

really is;

lovin it.

Went out Friday and Saturday nights here, beach parties are sweet, but some of the "VIP; We are so Damn Cool" clubs are way overrated. Heading for a surf in Spain and up to Hossegor during the next few days; should be sweet fun if the waves are anything like here in Biarritz. Plus 4m swell on the horizon; Mundaka possibilities!

I'll keep you updated;
Garrett in Biarritz;

Three days of surfing at least twice a day, sometimes three, finally I am sane again. The waves of Biarritz and there sometimes all day offshores are a sight for sore eyes for someone who has spent the past month roaming the Mediterranean coast. This morning I got up early and made the most of the dying swell with the other three guys in the water, I'm not sure what it is, but it seems as though the French are just not as keen about getting up at the crack of dawn for a dawny.

This coastline and region is absolutely amazing, from the Pyraneese about 5km to the south to the scenic surf spots that line the coast. After my early morning surf I decided I would grab the bike and see if I could ride to Spain, taking some photos along the way. The Grand Plage, the beachbreak 3 minutes from my house is where I spend most of my days and thanks to the sun setting at 10.00pm, and the flood lights that line the beach to light up the waves after dark, you can surf all day and all night if your keen. This is a photo of the Grand Plage with the dying swell, it has been a lot lot better the past few days, lots of sweet beachbreaks line the coast;

Up the hill and round the corner on one of the many private beaches, two swimmers partake in the ancient french tradition of swimming with swim caps. The stretchy plastic helps to protect the ears from the cold, and also makes an important fashion statement.

When surfing at the Grand Plage, you are right in front of Biarritz, it is one of the most scenic of surf spots with lots of great french architecture lining the coast.

Coming from the town of Busselton I regard a speedhump as a small hill, so when confronted with the Pyraneese I decided to abandon my bike ride to Spain and head back along the coast. The little bays that line the Basque coast, hide some awesome waves going unridden;

A few begginers make the most of the small swell with their mals in yet another scenic bay;

I've spent the past few days handing my CV around the local bars and stores trying to score some work for the summer season. There's plenty of work around, now all thats needed is the million or so European tourists that will set foot on these shores over the coming months. The weather has been great; and the surf even better, I'm staying with Vincent my second cousin and I have my own little hangout with a fold out bed, its a sweet place;

Spent a fair few nights making the most of the Biarritz nightlife, you can tell it's going to be a crazy summer. Cecile, Yann and I have spent a fair bit of time cruising round the town and helping me get a feel for the place. It's an awesome region with some awesome waves, a lot better than I was expecting, keep you updated;

Garrett in Biarritz;

Just got back from my third surf in beautiful Biarritz; and couldn't be happier. Except if it was a little bit hotter. Last Friday we were driving home from St Tropez in the wet and cold, as I was preparing myself for another two weeks of doing absolutely nothing, not a fun prospect. We decided to stop by the Shire office to check if they had any news on how far away my passport was. The lady at the counter grabbed an envelope pulled out my passport;
"Is this it?"
I was so so so so so so so stoked.

10:00 am: Got Passport
1:00 pm: Celebratory Lunch now that I am French Citizen (and can finally work legally)
2:00 pm: Head to Train Station
3:00 pm: Get on Train to other side of the Country
1:00 am: Arrive in Bordeaux
2:00 am: Head to the clubs in Bordeaux
6:30 am: Get train to Biarritz
8:00 am: Arrive in Biarritz
9:30 am: Get out the board and wetsuit and head to beach.
= One Crazy Night

Spent the past two days hanging at the backpackers in Anglet just north of Biarritz; there are a fair few Australians around and all are here for the same thing, surfing. Also met up with Vincent my cousin with whom I'm staying with at the moment, sweet little apartement three minutes walk from the beach.

The surf here is pretty good; lots of beachbreaks with a fair bit of power, good size, but some hassling french crowds. Looks like its going to be an awesome summer,

Garrett in Biarritz;
(I'll post photos soon)

The past week has been the most stressful of the trip so far, with my plans changing every few hours. One minute I am hopping on a train to the other side of the country, the next I’m moving to St Tropez to work, whilst awaiting the arrival of my passport. Finally however, the plans are becoming clear; Gryllzy is arriving around the 17th of May, this Wednesday I’m heading to St Tropez to start work for a few weeks and by the 1st of June Matt and I should be well and truly out of Provence and on our way to the pristine shores of San Sebastian in North East Spain. Booyah.

With most of my Mum’s side of the family scattered around Provence, Draguignan has always felt like a second home to me. For this reason the amount of sight-seeing I have done in the area has been fairly limited. The unusually hot weather and access to a car has allowed me to spend a lot of time lazing by the pool or heading to town with Aurelien and wandering around the cafés and bars. My highly active Grandparents usually manage to get us out of bed at around 7:30 for a walk around the hill and up through the forest, and every night ends with a game of ‘escalier’ or ‘stairs’. Just like old times.

Yesterday I caught up with Elizabeth and Hannah, Leah’s mum and sister, who are halfway through their own little ‘Eurotrip’. We caught up for pizza and wine and heard of their stories from Barcelona, London and the unexpected nudist beaches that surrounded their apartment in the south of France. Hannah, Aurelien and I went out last night and caught up with some of Aurelien’s friends, who treated us to a night of listening to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers whilst sitting and talking around the communal ‘shisha’, with almost always makes an appearance gatherings of French teens. We slept until 10 this morning and spent the rest of the day enjoying the sun and Aurelien’s amazing pool and house;

Backflips, frontflips and a lot of skimming helped to relieve my continued craving for the ocean (a little);

Whilst Aurelien’s dogs ran around the pool entranced by our sweet aquatic skills;

The family also got together last Saturday to celebrate my cousin Marjolaine’s 10th birthday, arguably the cutest kid of our family, it wasn’t a surprise to see gift after gift after gift being handed to her.

From pink converses to a pair of roller blades every present was opened with a typical Marjo smile. On the drive home along the freeway we were overtaken at 160km/h by what could be the future of French travel; this weaving, single person car/bike invention,

With the stress of the last two weeks finally behind me, and the next few weeks falling into place I have been able to sit down, relax and enjoy some of the best things this region has to offer. Cheese, bread, wine and the odd conversation in a café with a good looking French girl.

Garrett in Draguignan;

For the past two weeks I have been catching up with relatives in the south of France, whilst waiting for my ever elusive French passport to arrive from Sydney so I can start working. The passport had been sent to Sydney two months later than originally indicated, meaning that I was already on the other side of the world when it arrived. I sent a fax from Morocco on the 5th of April explaining that I would not be able to pick up my passport from Sydney and that if it was possible could the French consulate please send it to Draguignan where I would pick it up on my arrival. On the 22nd of April I was meant to head to Biarritz on the other side of France near the Spanish border to begin work for the summer season, however by the 16th of April my passport had still not arrived, so I decided to call the French consulate in Sydney. The opening hours or the consulate are from 9am to 1pm AEST; which with the time difference meant I had to call from France between 1am and 5am. When I finally got through to the consulate at 2:15am; I was told by the “very helpful” French woman that my passport was being sent on the 19th and would arrive in; 6 weeks! Heading to Biarritz during the next month went out the window, and I had to begin thinking about finding work in the region.

The next day we made the trip to the tourist mecca that is St Tropez. With it’s €30 million yachts and even more impressive beach side houses, it is a place where money definitely does matter.

We met up with a distant relative of ours, Jean Paul Vasse, with whom we sailed around the bay admiring the beaches and houses with their $50 million price tags. Stories of drug trafficking and mafia connections surround most of the multi million dollar homes; and the list of celebrity holiday getaways just goes on and on and on.

Over lunch we talked about our distant family connections with the 18th century French sailor Timothy Vasse; whom the town of Vasse in Geographe Bay is now named after, and the possibility of me working in St Tropez for the next 5 weeks whilst waiting for my French passport to arrive.

On a positive note; the south of France at my grandparent’s house isn’t the worst place in the world to be stuck.

I have spent the past week indulging in French food, wine and weather, seeing relatives and lazing by their pool that overlooks the town of Draguignan and south towards St Tropez. The only thing that this place lacks, is the surf that is currently hitting Biarritz on the Atlantic coast; however the wake behind the Vasse’s boat did provide some little waves of hope;

Garrett in Draguignan; France