Four days in Hardelot

After a few days back in Lille, we three packed our bags and took off to Hardelot, a couple of hours' drive away, to spend 4 days with Marie, Scholastie, Hippolyte, Josephine, and Violette.

It was SO much fun. The kids had a ball together - going to the park, walking through sand dunes, drawing with chalk on the road, cycling or scootering around, making sand castles at the beach... heaven!

It was wonderful to see the cousins' friendships grow even stronger... It would be great to spend time with them more frequently, but alas. For the foreseeable future it isn't going to happen.

I think this post will be better expressed visually, so allow me to introduce Hardelot, April 2015:

In it we have footage of Le Jardin Pour Les Enfants (The Garden for Children), which is where we went soon after we arrived. All of the kids had a ball - playing with each other, on the equipment, and with other kids.

The following day we all went for a long walk through the sand dunes that extend from the township to the beach - where we found some relics of WW2 weaponry and barracks. I can't remember the specifics so I won't post half-truths, but apparently this spot of coast was seen as a potential battleground and entry-point to France; the concrete structures that are still standing (in parts) are a testament to it.

We walked to the ocean and then decided to return via the beachfront, which was terribly windy but great for the kids to run around on. Actually, although there's a little repetition I'm going to include a separate video called Dunes Walk. And I'm including a photo collage. Lucky you!

The next morning Scholastie, Josephine, Margaux, and I headed off to the fish market to buy some fresh sole for lunch. The girls loved spotting birds and boats, and the atmosphere was great. Margaux slept in the car and for a significant part of the shopping expedition, but what she saw of it I think she enjoyed. Marie cooked up a storm for us and we had a delicious meal.



We adults took advantage of the babysitting capacity of one of the teenagers Scholastie and Marie know who was holidaying pretty much next door, and headed out for a meal together. It was so great to spend some quality time with them, even if it was just for the length of dinner.

And, like all holidays, it was over too soon... Until next time, Hardelot!