Greetings from the Sahara

So it is a very bright, sunny day and we are here at the fab-u-lous Sahara desert getting ready to climb a sand dune.

Howdy, y'all -- got my hat an' shades on for sun protection

Just kidding!  We are at the largest sand dune in Europe -- Dune of Pyla or La Dune de Pila or Dune du Pilat -- depending on which sign you read.  It was a nice side-trip to do while we were staying in Bordeaux.

 So there is this stairway that allows for an easier climb to the top than just trying to scale the sandy slope.  We chose to go up via the stairs and we came down via the slope.  Coming down you would sink to mid-calf in the sand.  Upon that discovery I was glad that we hadn't tried to struggle up to the top in that fashion.  The stairs were tiring enough.

Once at the top there were a lot of nice views and I have the pictures to prove it.  Then there is the climbing down, climbing back up, and climbing back down.  Definitely worked up a thirst and an appetite for dinner.

We are above the trees -- the dune is slowly moving into the forest

You can see the severity of the slope and some of the taller trees that have already been engulfed

A view of the slope from halfway up the stairs

Yay!  We made it to the top of the stairs!  Look, it's the Atlantic!

The forest, and Dustin, in the background --- hi, Dustin!

Looking down the backside of the dune from the top

Now, for the long walk down to the water

Welcome to the EAST coast of the Atlantic Ocean! :)

It is a looooong way back up

View from the top -- there are ice cream and cold drinks down there

There you have it!  The largest sand dune in Europe AND the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean!  It is crazy to think about it being the east coast of the ocean when we call it the east coast back home, but our east coast (land wise) is really the west coast (water wise).