We’re excited to introduce our latest column, “European Connection,” from our friends overseas. From road trips through the Basque Country, late-night music scenes in Berlin to the best restaurants in London. We’ll keep you in the loop so you’re never out of step the next time you jump across the pond.
Road Trip: Northern Spain - Southern France
By J.R. Bishop
First-time contributor, long-time reader. The name’s J.R. Bishop — short for John Robert, and yes, it’s important that you know that.
I’ve been living up in Northern Spain for a while now, looking for some space to throw all my creative energy out into the world. Luckily, in this part of the world there’s no shortage of places to do that — music, theater, film, you name it, it’s all here in the Basque Country.
As you can imagine, with so much going on, I’ve got visitors coming in and out almost every other weekend. My roommate and I joke that our apartment is more hostel than home, which honestly, I couldn’t be happier about.
However, this particular weekend came with a bit of a curveball. The visitors this time were three of my sister’s friends without my sister. Anyone with more than two sisters knows that if there’s any chance of coming up with a clean, simple weekend plan, those chances are slim to none. With your sister’s friends, those chances drop straight to zero.
I tried thinking outside the box, which somehow ended with a hasty escape and a cab ride at three in the morning. That story is for another day.
Anyway, I’d dug myself into a hole. And how do you get out of a hole? You do two things: grab a shovel, rent a car, and head to southern France. Who doesn’t love a redemption story? This was mine, and I’m happy to share it for anyone who ever finds themselves in this very specific kind of pickle.
Stop 1: Bidart — Lunch at Kanttu
Every good day trip starts with a badass lunch and a drop-dead view. There’s no better place for that than Kanttu in Bidart. It’s right on the water, hidden down a little road that turns into a five-minute walk to get there.
Once you arrive, it’s just you, the ocean, and the best burger you’ve ever had in your life.
My sister’s friends, who we’ll just call the Three, were loving their burgers with the view, but I knew it wasn’t going to be enough. I had to swing big.
Stop 2: Biarritz — Les Halles and the Flea Market
The crown jewel of the whole trip was Biarritz. There’s so much to do there that it can be a little overwhelming, so I’ll make it simple: stop at the first pharmacy you see (they’re always the best), then head to Les Halles de Biarritz, your one-stop shop for food, drinks, and local buzz.
If you happen to go on a Sunday, there’s a flea market out front that’s always worth a wander.
Stop 3: Guéthary — Sunset at Bahia Beach
After Biarritz, the only move left was to keep the momentum going, so we headed down the coast to Guéthary to finish the day off right.
It’s one of those places that feels like it’s holding a secret from the rest of the world. The sun starts dipping low, the light hits the water just right, and suddenly everyone’s a little quieter — like they know they’re in the middle of something special.
We found a spot at Bahia Beach, right on the water. If you ever go, do yourself a favor and order the mussels. I swear you’ll never look at mussels the same way again.
The food, the sound of the waves, that slow fade of the day — it’s the kind of moment that makes you forget you were ever stressed about anything.
Stop 4: Providence — A Final Glass of Wine
Before calling it a night, we popped our heads into Providence for a glass of white wine. Just enough to toast the chaos, the company, and the fact that sometimes the best weekends are the ones you never plan right in the first place.
- J.R.
