Train to the Seaside Town of Archachon – including a boat trip along the western coast of France.

Arcachon is 55 km south-west of Bordeaux.  If  you go on the weekend it’s possible to get the train there & back but mid week there is only a train late in the afternoon – maybe 1 there early in the morning?  Anyway by the time we left Bordeaux (from the railway station mid week) it was 10am and they had a bus service.  It was ok but stopped frequently & took almost twice as long as the return train trip – only about 40 min.  We arrived, booked ourselves onto a small boat trip (see photos) at 2pm and then had time for a light lunch at a cafe in the little town – baguette, cheese, tomato, ham…was the 1st time we encountered no English so ensure you can read the basics from a French menu if you go.  I plan on putting some basic recipes with translations into the “food” category…1 day!  (Fun thing for our grandkids to learn:).    For now here are some photos…

Dune du Pilat can be visisted from Arcachon.  After reading Trip Advisor it sounds like a long day if you’re driving and the car parking arrangements aren’t great?  Consequently we decided on a boat trip from the pier in Arcachon (see other photos). Our boat trip just cruised past but that was enough for us as the thought of climbing over sand dunes on quite a warm day didn’t appeal to us. From the boat it appeared that they’re not as spectacular as the Sydney’s sand dunes I remember…that was back in the 60s so I might be wrong of course!  Anyway, we hoped that we would get a lot closer to this sand dune (even get off the boat near the dunes) – that didn’t happen (maybe longer boat trips allow that?).  Our boat was about 500 m away from shore. However, on reading the other reviews, we’re glad we didn’t go by bus or car as the traffic sounds bad. Of particular concern was the theft that occurred from someone’s car. If you’re paying to park you would hope for better security?

France (96 of 142)

This photo was where we had lunch in Arcachon before we went on the 1+ hr boat trip.  The interior of the place felt like a cross between 1 of our ordinary, old style cafeteria/football clubs but the outdoor space was pleasant.  The food (some buffet style) looked heavy (mostly French families and tourists it seemed) but we just had their beautifully fresh baguettes with fromage (cheese) jambon (ham) etc!  Delicious!

More Arcachon photos…

One of the main points of interest near Arcachon are the famous dunes.  As a child I often visited Kurnell sand dunes (massive & memories of heat!) so we decided to just view them here from the boat – we enjoyed that!

More on Arcachon from Net – Lonely Planet…

A long-time oyster-harvesting area on the south side of the tranquil, triangular Bassin d’Arcachon (Arcachon Bay), this seaside town lured bourgeois Bordelaise at the end of the 19th century. Its four little quarters are romantically named for each of the seasons, with villas that evoke the town’s golden past amid a scattering of 1950s architecture.

Arcachon’s generous swathe of golden-sand beach seethes with sun-seekers in summer, but there are plenty of equally sandy but less-crowded beaches, including the lovely Plage des Arbousiers, just a short bike ride away.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/southwestern-france/arcachon/introduction#ixzz4SgpsW8jn
Of course with the Atlantic Ocean just down the Rd…

TRY THE LOCAL OYSTERS & seafood of Marche des Capucins (a 25 min walk from centre of Bordeaux or a 3 min taxi)

RECIPES…

From The South of France Cookbook by Nina Parker

Sardines De Lucien – P183

This recipe from St. Tropez on the east coast of France

Lucien’s Sardines

Nina’s buddy Lucien is a fisherman and he lives in St Tropez in South of France – on east coast of France (ie opposite coast to Bordeaux on West Coast of France)…near Marseille

Serves 4

2 tbsp olive oil

4 small shallots, diced

8 sardine fillets

3 cloves garlic, diced

100 ml white wine

1/3 cup raisins

1 green onion

1/4 pine nuts (toasted)

Handful of flat-leaf parsley (chopped)

S&P

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan, add shallots and cook over low heat until soft and translucent.

Place griddle pan over medium-high heat and season the sardine fillets with olive oil, pepper and a pinch salt (sardines are naturally salty).

Once pan is hot, add 4 fillets, skin side down and leave to char for about 4 min. Carefully move with a slotted spatula halfway through to prevent from sticking to pan. Once skin charred, remove fillets and set aside. Repeat with remaining fillets.

By now shallots should have wilted and reduced by half. Add garlic and let cook for a few minutes, then add sardines and increase heat.

Pour over white wine and let juices simmer and infuse.

Then add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 2-3 min until fish begins to flake. Serve immediately or at room temperature. Pas mal!

Canapé and entree recipes from this book P123…for example

Risotto balls with Leek, Thyme and Fennel Seeds P 147

Nina says ‘absolutely winning canapes’…’best way to use up any leftover risotto. You can make them in advance and fry just before eating