Biarritz, France is on the southwestern Basque coast, apparently European royalty began visiting in the 1800s and it soon turned into a tourist destination.  I very un-royally arrived in a downpour of rain where in 5 short minutes it became apparent my rain jacket is not waterproof!  Fifty minutes later I arrived at my hostel soaking wet and greeted by a bunch of 20 something year olds. Biarritz is not on a pilgrim route so I was not expecting to meet other pilgrims but I was expecting a more varied age group.

As this is a popular surf destination part of my plan was to toast my adventure in by surfing my first day, sadly with rain and no waves that was not an option.  I did go exploring and visited a symbol of Biarritz, the Rocher de la Vierge which is a rocky outcrop topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary. You access this via footbridge and it offers amazing views of the Bay of Biscay. 

Biarritz feels so romantic, the landscape, people and basically everything seems to ooze pheromones.  The hostel was hip and clean but somehow I drew the short straw and got the 3rd row bunk and it was no easy endeavor getting in and out.  I went to bed as the 20 year olds were leaving for the night and I started walking to my next destination with a few of them returning home!

Hostel:   Utopy Hostel

Cost:  59 euros.

Reservation required, hostels fill up quick here