On the move...

Now we feel like sightseeing tourists.

This week we have taken Bev to St Jean de Luz in sunshine, what a beautiful seaside French town certainly a jewel on the Basque coast. Trav, Hudson and Bev took in Biarritz and Bayonne on a public transport day trip. Bayonne was the highlight with its 11^th century church along with the stone walls surrounding the centre of town for protection.

We took a 2-day trip into Spain visiting San Sebastion and taking a cruise around the harbour. The kids loved the boat as it had a glass bottom section where they could view the large crabs and fish on the ocean floor. San Sebastion is a majestic Spanish town, we were a bit lost ordering food with limited Spanish and Hudson’s allergies, although the kids did enjoy greeting anyone with ‘Ola’.

(I hassled Trav for 3 months to get a haircut, 

he gets one and then grows a beard to annoy me - the cheek!)

That evening we somehow arrived in Bilbao with no map, and found our accommodation. We walked down through the old town took in the sights and saw the Guggenheim Museum changing colour shades at dusk as the titanium walls reflect the setting sun. The kids loved the large spider and 2-story dog that is covered in living flowers.

The following day we went through the abstract art displays within the museum however we both agree the buildings conceptualisation and final construction was the highlight. Hudson was hard to control as many of the displays were abstract industrial art which he thought look like toys and play equipment and therefore wanted to climb and play on which the armed guards didn’t agree with! 

The kids were reward with a play in the adventure and water park next to the museum FREE for all, while I had a drink and fed Noah in the shade of the parks café.

Madeleine is learning that different countries speak different languages and is giving it a wonderful go. Noah is now on the move pulling himself across the floor towards anything he sees and desires, not long before he’ll be crawling (our little baby is growing up).

Surf report:  Trav had some classic 3-4ft beachies this week, it has been offshore for 2 days and flattened off the swell, pulse coming next week.

Coming up: Danica and James arrive Bev departs for Spain and our last week in Hossegor.

A bientot
The Minns Mob

Bonjour Kinder Friends #2

Thank you kinder friends for my email and photo.  I loved it.

How did the lantern walk go?

My nana came over to join our holiday.  We caught a train to Bordeaux and  a bus to pick her up.

In Bordeaux we found a Chateaux Madeleine and mummy bought me a Madeleine bottle of wine, but I'm not allowed to drink it until I am 21.  We also visited a medieval village.

We also drove to Spain (they speak another language there not French), and went on a boat in San Sebastien it was excellent.  There was a window in the bottom of the boat to look a the fish and crabs.

Daddy drove all of us to Bilbao.  Hudson and I were so good in the museum (Guggenheim) that mummy and dady let us play at the water park after.

My favourite thing at the museum were the:
- Spider
- Flower Dog
- Steel curved walls that I ran through and around them and opened a box with pixie dust.

Hope you are all well

Love Maddie

Weeks 5-6

Finally – trav has had a haircut  J

We set out for St Jean Luz the last French town before the Spanish border.

On arrival it rained…we searched for an undercover area in the local piazza market and bought another umbrella. Here the gentleman recommeneded a local restaurant for lunch.  We rocked up like drowned rats and felt a little uncomfortable as the wet family of 5 entered a  fine dining  restaurant.  The lunch was on  mum and dad (nanny and poppa) for Trav’s birthday and was beautiful  - thanks.  Finally rain subsided and we walked the promenade and back streets looking through the narrow street scape with the back drop of the Pyrennees.

Other family outings included mini golf in Capbreton and more  markets.  I have managed to do yoga once a week and finally conquered the entire lake – yay.  Unfortunately the surf has died off a bit for Trav although  hopeful he still checks out every morning up the hill.

We start getting ready for Bev’s arrival the kids and trav make ‘welcome’, ‘love you’ signs to flag as she arrives.  

We spent a night in Bordeaux and visited the old city and waterfront which was magnificent.

The following day headed out to St Emillion and the medieval village, what a fascinating and beautiful town! We road tripped through the east and south bordeaux region viewing many of the chateau's and vineyards along the way. The weather was mid 20's with beautiful clear blue skies. We even bought a bottle of Clos de Madeleine red wine which was produced the year madeleine was born 2006 and matures 21 years later for her 21st. 

Another couple of lazy days in Hossegor showing Bev around our local café, park, merry go round, lake, beach and all that Hossegor centre ville has to offer.  Another still warm evening at the creperie on the beach.   Yet again we enjoy the simplicity of   sitting back (literally as the chair legs tilt in the snat), having a few glasses of wine with French crepes while the kids can run wild on the sand. C’est la vie.

Upcomming: St Jean Luz again with Bev, Biaritz, Markets, Beach, Spain – San Sebastien, Bilbao and the Gugenheim

Week 4 & 5

I can’t believe we have been on holiday for a full month!J The exciting news is we have just over 2 more months and the exploring further afield is yet to begin.

We started last week with my SECOND MOTHERS DAY for 2011 (different date in France) and what an amazing day.  We hired a bike with a kids seat attached and borrowed our NEW best buds in Hossegor (Bruce, Lou and Archie (4), Manou (2)) kids trailor to commute to the next town (Capbreton). The bike trails took us via Hossegor beachfront, along the lake and port entry across into town.  We sauntered through a quaint pedestrian only village and I even managed to do some window-shopping.  We had a lovely relaxed lunch ‘PLAT DU JOUR’ – plate of the day - Duck.  Kids loved the day especially because they didn’t have to walk anywhere as mum and dad peddled them around.

We have had some rest and down time for a couple of days, Trav continued to surf although the water was becoming substantially cooler (something to do with snow melt from the Pyrennes) and the wind had changed.  The French decided to have a public holiday for Trav’s Birthday (2^nd June) and we attended a second hand market in our local piazza – we all came away with some treasures.  To celebrate we had our NEW friends over for a party – drank a couple of bottles of Moet Chandon Champagne – C’EST LA VIE!

Steph Foster came to visit for 4 days – it was great catching up with her and being able to have some 1:1 time as the surf finally went flat J.  We went for walks around the lake, little lie on the beach until the inclement weather moved across.   We all had a lovely dinner at the ‘Creperie du Lac’ which is built on the sand at the beach of the lake, the kids could play and run we could relax have a drink as the sun set. 

Another night Trav rode to the local port and bought fish off the boat. (he actually watched it dock then went aboard) and cooked up a storm with the fresh atlantic catch.  Steph, on one of our lake walks had a dozen oysters from the top of the lake – open eateries which pull the oysters from the beds located in front of the restaurant, apparently they were amazing for all those oyster lovers.

As this week is drawing to an end the surf starts to pick up for Trav, the family seems happy and healthy. We are managing a MADELEINE and HUDSON break out ? bug/flea/stinger bites.  So the last 2 days we have re washed the entire bed linen, clothes etc, although this may not have been necessary we were not risking anything.  The pharmacy provided me with an ointment cream for the bites of which Madeleine has had a reaction and looks like a glowing red umpa-lumpa girl, she has had such a bad run of luck! 

The kids are now ordering with waiters and shop staff, counting to 10 all in French much better than Trav, who is finding it difficult to let go of his Australian twang.  Noah is now waving and saying mummmm.

Looking ahead: St Jean Luz with Kids tomorrow, market in Capbreton on the weekend, Bev arriving next week on the 14^th, and exploration of Bordeaux, chateau’s and wineries for two days.

A bientot