Travelling: Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea, Why this adversity?
As you may know I am French and from Bordeaux, the city of red wine, the “capital” of the South west of France or the city of Light as many French know. Maybe I am not objective but through my eyes this is the most beautiful city in the world, where we can enjoy a nice down town, with a lot of building classified at the UNESCO, various restaurants, wine et near to the Atlantic Ocean (30–40 minutes by car).
In talking about sea, there is an adversity in France regarding our 2 coastlines: The Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea.
Indeed, in France we have the chance to possess 2 beautiful seaside resorts which are always full of tourists every summer. But it seems existing an adversity between these two places: one part of France preaches the wildness and vastness of Atlantic and some other preaches the luxe and the atmosphere of Mediterranean.
Let’s see what’s going on …
The Atlantic Ocean
For this article we will focus on the “Silver coast” and the “Basque coast”, the Atlantic side of the France where we use to attract more tourist (other regions attracts tourist but less, maybe because of temperatures).
We see for travelling here the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean, large beaches, a nice weather but sometimes with a bit a rain and the cool attitude of surfers. Welcome to the Atlantic coast, here no frills or show everyone stays natural and easy going. We will find beach shops, where they sell swimsuit, useless gadgets, and beach accessories.
People are actually looking for places like “La Dune du Pyla” or “Le Cap Ferret” for their tranquility and wildness, there is not a lot of tourists, we just ear the ocean and enjoy the wildness of neighbourhoods (sometimes road are not paved!).
On the contrary it exists also seaside resort more popular like Biarritz or Lacanau where we find more tourists but always with the easy-going mood of surfers.
It exists a lot of restaurants, more or less expensive it depends what you look for, but prices use to be average. For the housing you can prefer a modest hotel (but of course it also exists luxurious hotels, they are just rarer) or a typical house you can rent.
The Mediterranean Sea
In this part we will discuss about the “Azur coast” with all these famous cities: Cannes, Nice, Saint Tropez and the principality of Monaco, etc.
Here the weather is very hot, rain is very rare, and this is for that tourists are travelling and “invading” the place.
We enjoy a mountainous and sea landscape at the same time, roads are uphill and winding so prepare your legs or your car if you come there!
The Azur coast is the destination in France when we want to enjoy the sun, the sea and luxury. There is a lot of luxurious hotels, as expensive as the other, with a parade of sport and luxe cars in front of.
Moreover, if you walk along the “Croisette” in Cannes, prepare your wallet because all the luxury and fashion brands you know are there, if you have a more limited budget just go to the next street!
Saint Tropez was at the beginning just a small fishers places but today thanks to the French actress Brigitte Bardot this a very famous city. It has kept the picturesque of its architecture, but the port is now full of yacht and international tourists, making the contest of who will have the largest bill in bars or restaurants.
So, which one?
As you may have understood, both have their qualities and faults
The Atlantic Ocean is big, wild, authentic, without any frills and resourceful.
The Mediterranean Sea is more concentrated, always sunny and show-off.
It depends actually what you are looking for, I visited both places and even if Atlantic Ocean is my home I have to say it is hard to choose. Both places provide us a show: the nature for Atlantic or the luxe for Mediterranean, the rest of the Atlantic or the amazing Night life for the Mediterranean, the warm weather for the Atlantic or the hot weather of the Mediterranean.
In writing this article I was expecting to clarify myself but actually I am at the same point. So, if you have chosen your team and if you know where is the best spot for travelling let me know!