Sunday, July 15, 2007

Beach Bums

One of the great things about Bordeaux is that you can get out of the city and be on one of the most pristine beaches in Europe within three-quarters of an hour. The children are spending a few days with their grandparents and so we decided go to one of our pre-children haunts today.

Late this morning, as the thermometer rose well past 30°C, we got into the car and headed for Le Porge. As you can see in the photo, it's not the sort of beach you would go to if you want cocktail bars, or shade, or loungers, or if you had children with delicate white skin and no fear of water. All there is is miles and miles of sand and great big waves with dangerous undercurrents called bahines.

If you go to the central part of the beach, you can walk across the dunes on wooden walkways, and you will find lifeguards and closely packed families on the sand. Move just 500m on either side, and you will have to trudge through the pine forest and the hot sand to get to the beach but there will be much more space and fewer dogs and ice boxes.

The further you go, the more naked the people become. And if you keep going, you'll soon start to notice that you're the only woman for miles around and that none of the bronzed young men are paying you any attention whatsoever.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Made me laugh! Sounds like a relaxing place, though.

Sarolta said...

Sounds like a place I'd love to be right now! And it certainly looks like one too! ;-)

Anonymous said...

hehe, I know a Greek beach like that! Sounds fun :-)

Unknown said...

Did someone say "bronzed young men"? Hehe - I'm always up for some eye candy ;-)

Anonymous said...

Once, a long time ago, a writer (one of those Lawrence brothers as in My family and othrer animals, wrote about a fabulous place/island
And what happened?
How could you Lesley? This well kept secret? And all those sneaky people who read your blog and never make comments? They are going to take over this paradise? What were you thinking of?!

Lesley said...

I think they've already arrived Deborah. The car park was full to overflowing on Sunday!

meredic said...

I remember playing on these same beaches in the mid 70's. Back then, friends and I, would walk along all afternoon for the thrill of the occasional topless girl. A more innocent age I guess. You cant move for tripping over naked bodies now and you look the odd one out if dressed.

Beach Bum said...

Why did u stop - just curious..

Confinement

Being confined indoors most of the day, just the four of us, is reminding me of the days when my children were wee and most of our weekends ...