PS: Jämtland, up north

We went further north too.... to visit my family in Strömsund and östersund. The winter is long, cold and dark, but when summer comes, it's like nature tries to compensate. Summer is so lush, so overwhelming, so full of sun!

My uncle and his wife took the trout they had fished and warm smoked it for us. Delicious! I had tried warm smoked salmon on Ålö, this was something different!

When you look at the landscape here and all the pine trees, you might have a guess to why Les Landes and their pine trees feel so good to me...

The light is special, even in August

Warm smoked trout

Rhubarb that made for the best rhubarb cake

Elk entrecote

Off topic: Ålö in the Stockholm archipelargo

We spent a week on the island Ålö..... in a small cabin of 15 m2, with no running water and no electricity (solar panels to give us light for the lamps) and a dry WC outdoors...

Maybe the lack of modern facilities was part of it, the magic we lived that will make this week such a happy memory.

No TV, no Nintendo, no times to watch, just wake up with the sun and spend time together, discover the island and play cards in the evening.

Fishing took up many hours during the week.

Our cabin. The sea behind is open until Finland on the other side of the Baltic Sea.

Warm smoked salmon... 

Midsummer at Bassilour

Sometimes you find small ethnic groups that hang on to the traditions from their old home land. Like the group of Swedes (and French) that gathered at Bassilour to celebrate Midsummer, hosted by Charlotte. A tradition that is maintained by her since 23 years now!

Everybody brought a traditional Swedish food item which made for a sumptuous buffet... afterwards we danced around the flower decorated pole and sang the best we could....

Cazenave pastry

When I pass the Cazenave bakery in Saint-Paul-les-Dax, I always stop to take some bread. And pretty often I will pick up some pastry. Like today, to celebrate.... that is is Sunday ... the weather is great ... that on Thursday the summer vacation starts for the children?

Any excuse is a good one!

Co(o)rniche, design restaurant in Pyla-sur-Mer

La Co(o)rniche in Pyla-sur-Mer has been on my wish list for a while, since I heard about this place designed by Starck and set by the sea next to the Dune de Pyla... so when our friends suggested lunch there I was thrilled! And as you can see by the photos, we were not disappointed...

(Smart with a mirror so everyone can have a view of the ocean!)

Afterwards we went for a windy stroll in Arcachon.