Success
On our last day, we confirmed: being foreigners can make finding a place a real challenge. But fear not! Gabe came to the rescue and found us a rental on the French version of Craigslist. Enter Villa Maria, or at least that's what I think it's called. Patrick, the landlord, welcomed us with open arms and a friendly demeanor. The apartment turned out to be a spacious haven with lofty ceilings, ample windows, and the holy grail of amenities—a dryer! My laundry prayers have been answered. Patrick even invited us up to his own apartment. Little did we know we'd have to conquer four flights of stairs, but it was totally worth it. On the way up, we were greeted by 100-year-old wallpaper (yes, you read that right), and a mind-blowing view of the Atlantic Ocean, with snow-capped mountains marking the beginning of Spain in the distance. Talk about a stunning backdrop! Patrick's wife, a doctor, was also present. She disappeared momentarily to fetch coffee but sheepishly returned to inform us that the building was out of coffee. It was pretty comical. Only an elderly couple from Luxembourg was living there at this time. Oh well, tea it was! We had a pleasant chat and then continued on our way. Later, we parked our car in a nearby garage and decided to walk back to the apartment to see how long it would take. Turns out, just a short six-minute stroll. We were stoked! As we made our way, we suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out, "Hey, it's me, Sylvan. Come have a drink with me." Mind you, it was only 10 am! Opting for something non-alcoholic, we settled on a bottle of bubbly water and spent around 15 minutes catching up with him. Ah, small towns—where unexpected encounters are the norm. Surprisingly, Sylvan was more likable when he was sober. Now about our dinner escapade at the market in Anglet—it was an absolute blast! The place was like a beehive of activity, bustling with people and buzzing with excitement. We lucked out and found ourselves seated next to a fascinating trio: a woman and two men. Now, this scene was straight out of a quirky sitcom. You see, this woman had spent more than two decades in LA before making a return in 2020. Talk about a plot twist! The entertaining part was trying to decipher the dynamics among the three. Who was the lucky boyfriend? Honestly, I couldn't quite figure it out with all the intense flirting happening around us. It was like watching a reality TV show unfold right before our eyes. But hey, it made for a fun evening, and we had a blast getting to know these people. As the night progressed, we hit it off so well that we decided to exchange numbers. We made plans to contact Veronica, the LA-turned-Anglet adventurer, when we find ourselves back in town. Another friend added to our ever-growing circle of connections! Haha, who would've thought? Dinner at the market in Anglet turned out to be more than just a meal—it was an opportunity to dive into the quirky and unexpected side of life. From navigating the complex relationship dynamics to exchanging numbers with our newfound friend Veronica, it was an evening filled with laughter, intrigue, and the sheer joy of meeting new people. Who knows what adventures await us on our next encounter? Stay tuned for more in July!
