driving to biaritzz

today we got up too early...(i only slept 2 hours)...russ, shem and i went to rent our car..i reserved a 9 passenger van...shem was a little worried because he thought it would be too big for the streets....almost was!  got the car, went back to the hotel...checked out and went to pick them up....it took us awhile because streets had diversions...so we'd have to go around...it took a bit (thank goodness for map quest!)  got to their street which is super tiny!  barely room for parked cars and a driving lane...russ almost took out a car as he was parking, went over a few cement things...guess it happens all the times....then, we packed up....wow...back to the days...alot of suitcases, 2 baby seats, and 2 surfboards...they didn't fit on the roof, so they fit them in by the window...reminders of the good old days!  all of us got into the car....drove south to biaritzz...car ride wasn't too bad...kristen was sort of squished, she was in the front middle seat with the stick shift....andrea, ira and i in the middle seat, kerry austin and tama in the back...not a lot of air...had to keep opening the window...we drove to bayonne...it's a pretty little city...we are now in basque country...the basque people are not from any tribe or group of people...they have been here for at least 4000 years...have their own language and customs....they live in southern france and northern spain....have alot of good food!  bayonne is the city that brought chocolate to france...they have delicious chocolate!   we had a mousse hot chocolate...very rich, thick and frothy...yum!!!  then we walked to a creperie and had different crepes for lunch...on most of them, they cook an egg with whatever you have...different, but good...afterwards, we drove on to biaritzz...i'm in love!!!  it's a beautiful beach town...has a gorgeous beach....our hotel was built by napoleon 3rd for his empress eugenie...it's gorgeous...our rooms look over the ocean...now, if the weather would cooperate!  at least it's not raining....it's a really nice hotel...we all have great rooms...shem took tama swimming in the indoor pool...he loved it...the kids are so easy...we had a really good dinner on the beach...never finish until about 11...late!  tomorrow the boys are surfing in the morning...then, some sightseeing1