We kicked off a travel series in January 2019 featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu, Iceland, Switzerland and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to the south-west of France and we could not be more thrilled! Lovely Gaétane, from Gaétane Glize, has been a pleasure to work with. I (Em) have been very excited to share this feature from the moment I read about south-west France as experienced by Gaétane and then, again, when her images hit my inbox. Thank you for joining in, Gaétane, and for sharing images that transport us and stories that make us want to experience your part of the world firsthand! Enjoy!

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French Pyrenees Mountains. Image by Gaétane Glize.

"Tell us about where you live”

I live in the very south-west of France in the Landes pine forest, alongside the Atlantic ocean. What I love about this place is that you have a lot of variety in landscape within a 200km radius! To name a few: you have insane cliffs overlooking the ocean, secluded sand dune beaches, mountains and alpine lakes, and even a desert. My home is 5 minutes away from the beginning of the French Basque country and the Spanish border is also 45 minutes away from where I live! It is a preserved gem that not many people know about!

"What makes your town, state or country unique?"

This part of France is every photographer's dream. It showcases some of the last completely untouched natural landscapes & traditional old villages. It contains some of the last vestiges of completely untouched nature. There is nothing better than rambling through the great outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and admiring the spectacular scenery.

"If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town, state or country?"

This is a place you EXPERIENCE! This is the perfect place for adventurers. Here are the micro-adventures I recommend for you:

Take a surf lesson in one of the wild sand dune beaches of Seignosse (Les Casernes or Le Penon).
Enjoy the region fantastic ‘culture of food’ by eating at local restaurants that serve home-made and traditional south-west food.
Visit some of the most beautiful small villages of France: Labastide-d’Armagnac, Navarrenx, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Aïnhoa or Sare.
Take a stroll in the city center of Bayonne and taste traditional ham with a glass of red wine.
Visit Biarritz and then go to the Chambre d'Amour beach to have a drink by the ocean shore while admiring the sunset.
Climb the highest sand dune in all of Europe - dune du Pilat - and then appreciate some local oysters from the "Bassin d'Arcachon".
Take a SUP yoga class on the Hossegor lake.
Take a hike in the Basque Country near Iraty - you will feel like you're in Scotland!
Hike in the Pyrenees mountains until you reach the Gaube alpine lake and spend the night in the Oulette shelter; the next morning, admire the sunrise on the Vignemale peak.
I could go on and on... There are so many things to do!

"What is something quirky we would find in your town, state or country?”

There is one tradition that everyone should experience in their lifetime: the Ferias in the south-west of France and Basque Country. Every town/village holds several days of festivities where everyone is dressed in all-white + a red scarf (can be blue for some towns so check beforehand if you want to be accepted by the crowd!). Hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors come together in the streets to sing and dance in the streets to the sound of bandas (brass bands).

A traditional dance you should definitely experience is the paquito: you have to sit down in the street between the legs of the person behind you, and make a space for the person in front of you. Lift your arms and swing front and back to the rhythm of the song. Then, wait for it... somebody is going to go for it! They will jump, lying flat out, and be carried arm in arm over you. The goal is for them to go to the very end of the paquito line without falling so.. Don't drop them! Promise you will have a good laugh! Those festivals are also celebrating the local culture with folk music groups, bulls driven through the streets, bodegas (bars in the streets), and tasting of artisanal products.

"Coffee or chai/tea?"

Join me at SLOW coffee shop in Soorts-Hossegor for a chai latte - with oat milk please!

"Best breakfast cafe?"

Magnolia Café Hossegor!

Landes Pine Forest. Image by Gaétane Glize.

Landes Sand Dune Beaches. Image by Gaétane Glize.

French Basque Country Cliff Coastline. Image by Gaétane Glize.

"Three reasons for why someone should visit your town, state or country?"

Well, if by now you are not convinced yet, I would say that visiting the Landes and Basque Country areas in south-west France is the opportunity to:

1.Reconnect with nature and yourself by breathing in the fresh air and admire the spectacular diverse landscapes.

2.Discover the welcoming and joyful local culture and its amazing traditional food.

3.Experience the "art de vivre": the way of life here is slow and leisurely, people are laid-back, happy and stress-free and these kinds of positive vibes are contagious!

"Any local legends?"

On the borders of the villages of Pomarez, Estibeaux and Mouscardès, there is a lake called Tastoa. This is a natural place where locals go fishing, have a stroll... but not only. It is also - for the curious minds - where an ancient city seems to have disappeared. A myth indeed indicates that there was - during the Gallo Roman time - a small city whose only name was perpetuated: Tastoa. At various times, its presumed ancient existence has been justified by the discoveries - in the marshes and the surrounding moor - of bricks, pottery, foundations of walls, oak beams, coins and even an object in gold. To add to the mystery, legends have long made this area a witches' sabbath place. Nothing remains today of the traces of this agglomeration whose destruction by fire is presumed by the traces of carbonization which could go back to the time of the barbarian invasions - between the 5th and 6th centuries. The land cultivation also erased everything. All that remains are dreams and mystery.

"Train, bus, car or walk?"

My personal preference is biking or walking but here you need to take the train or have a car to go around.

"Best accommodation?"

Definitely stay at local's home; you can find special gems on Airbnb.

"Must-see vantage point?"

This is so hard to pick just one! So I would say:

-for the Landes area: estacade in Capbreton.

-for the Basque Country: rocher de la Vierge in Biarritz.

"Number one thing you miss when you're away?"

Admiring the sunset over the Atlantic ocean from my secret beach.

French Basque Country Mountains. Image by Gaétane Glize.

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You will find Gaétane here: