First, it is very windy on the beaches, which makes it chilly when you are out of the sun. And third, views of the beach are somewhat obstructed by rows and rows and rows and rows of beach huts.
They are small cabanas, and act as a refuge from the wind as well as a place to store your beach items and clothing for the day. It is very different from other beach areas we have been to. First up, Dunkirk was our favorite beach, although we favor the French spelling, Dunkerque.
Why do we anglicize actual names, instead of honoring the way the country itself spells things?? There was a basketball tournament taking place, and grandstands were set up for spectator viewing. Of course, Dunkirk is known for its beaches in , as , soldiers waited for evacuation back to Great Britain, just 50 miles away or so by sea. We watched the movie Dunkirk the night before to refresh our memories about the historical importance of the area.
It is quite sobering to see the calm beach today, and imagine it crowded with over a quarter of a million desperate soldiers. Downtown Calais was more enjoyable than its beach. Town Hall can be seen from around the city, and it is some stunning architecture. The sculpture of the Burghers of Calais in front of it is very moving…and magnificent!
The beach was jammed with beach huts, some not in great shape, which made the beach seem a bit degraded. Many people sunbathed in Calais with no view of the water whatsoever, which we found so strange. De Panne, Belgium is the location of our hotel, just over the border from Dunkerque.
