Oysters and White Wine at Cap Ferret

Mr. Large and I are car people. We have always lived in places that demand we "hit the road" to go to work, visit family and friends, play golf (one of us), shop, etc. We decided that we would take the train throughout Europe on this adventure and it's been an adjustment. Limiting, and freeing all at the same time. It's been tough schlepping our somewhat pared down luggage from destination to destination, but a moment of freedom arrived when we decided to head to the oceanside from Bordeaux.

We picked a gorgeous day, put on our shorts, sunscreen and hats and took the tram from our hotel to Gare St. Jean, Bordeaux's train hub and hopped a train to Archachon. This was the equivalent to going to the Jersey Shore in July, but friends, this wasn't Seaside Heights! First of all, we were on a train so no traffic jams! In only an hour or so we were at the ocean, and a more beautiful resort seaside town we had not seen. We found our way past all the beautiful shops, umbrella-ed restaurants and happy beachgoers to the pier where the ferry would take us to Cap Ferret. This was another level of seaside beauty. Low-rise and low-key, it was a welcome respite from the crowds, Why Cap Ferret you ask? Well, it's the center of the oyster farming industry. A fresher oyster you could not eat. There was a 30-minute ferry ride and a bit of a walk to get to the oyster village but it's rustic beauty filled us with wonder at the perfection of this day and the French version of "down the shore."

We spent a lovely, leisurely afternoon at the French oceanside, then back on the train and Gare St. Jean. We were very glad to be on public transportation and not in a car on this beautiful Sunday.

Oh, the little jar filled with a brown something was country pate. A delicious accompaniment to our oysters and shrimp.