Bordeaux by Tram

Spring here!

Today we tackled the bus/tram system here.  In these big cities, public transportation is easy, but you must master the system, and everyone has a little different nuance.  We had bought a 7 day unlimited pass yesterday at a Tabac (tobacco shop that sells everything) and today we needed to test them out.

I said yesterday that this apartment is a little outside the main part of the city.  Why we rented it I do not know, but we did and we are here.  It was the first one we rented for this trip, and possibly we were trying to save some money, but a more central location would have been easier. First rule to renting apartments:  LOCATION beats price everytime.  Anyway, the bus stop is 2 blocks away, and found out that that takes us directly to the tram on which you can go anywhere.  Groovy!

so you wait on the side that will take you the right direction

When it stops, you jump on and validate your ticket at a little machine

We got off in the center of town, just by the Gironde River (see yesterday's blog for the history) and started into the old town.  We had been at the TI (Tourist Information) office by the train station and had a few things to see, but mostly it was just a wander day.

cool and grey today, around 55. Good for walking

Just about thinking about lunch and what do we see?

Our favorite!  Lunch

So of course, we have to go in.  It was a pretty ritzy place, and we were just about under dressed, but it was great.

Penne pasta with Citron (lemon) and to DIE for beef in a fabulous sauce.

add a little red wine (Bordeaux of course) and some bread.  Happy Campers!

Little espresso.  I'm good to go.

We went to another TI and talked at length to a guy (in English) about wine tasting and vineyard tours.  We booked one for tomorrow.  Jerry was a little reluctant, but I said, "Hey, we're here.  We love wine." and he relented.  I am sure tomorrow night's blog will be all about our adventures on the mini-bus with 6 others touring 2 vineyards and tasting.

Bell tower - 228 steps up.  Needless to say, we did not go up

Found St Andre Cathedral built 13-1400's.  Classic gothic church.  Some parts are 4th century.

See the pointy tops on the arches?

For all the troubles people have

Clock in the church, never saw that before.

big big pipe organ

at least a block long from one end to another.  100 yards?

You can see this area has so much more weather from the condition of the bricks on the outside

classic French street

All restaurants have menu outside

We went back to the river front.  They have a cool reflecting....pad....that shoots water.  It is cool.  I am sure in the summer the kids LOVE it.

So much public space that is so clean, and well kept.  We could learn from that book.

Tramed and bused back. Rested, ate in, but had a couple of great desserts before we turn in tonight.  Bon Nuit, mon cher.

Beautiful spring in Bordeaux, France

Bonjour!  We have made it to Bordeaux France.  Home of fabulous wine and great food.  Here is the map for those of you who are learning something from this blog.

We are in Bordeaux which is on the Atlantic side of France.  Bordeaux is famous for many things, but mostly for its superior Bordeaux wine which is really Cabernet Savignon (mostly).

History Lesson:  As some of you will remember from World History, Eleanor of Aquitaine (in the 1100's) was a great queen of Aquitaine (here in Bordeaux).  She eventually married the king of France, then divorced him and married Henry II of England and gave birth to Richard the Lionhearted.  France wasn't always France, and Great Britain wasn't always Great Britain but this place (Aquitaine) was right in the middle of Europe.  If you wanted the quickest way to get to the Mediterranean Sea from England you came across the English channel, down the coast and up the Gironde river, which runs right through Bordeaux, to Toulouse, carry stuff for awhile and then down the Aude River to the Med.

People who lived on the shores of the Gironde were big traders and what people really wanted was a good bottle of local wine, so by 300 AD Bordeaux wine making was in full swing.  So, my point, is they really know how to make good wine.  This part of France was claimed by the English because it was so good, and they fought a really long war (remember the 100 years war? it ran from 1336 to 1565) because the British didn't want to give it up.  Bordeaux wine was very important to the English aristocracy.  They called it claret.

I digress.  But it is important to understand that to see what kind of history and tradition we are dealing with.  And of course, with good wine comes......food.  And that is why we are here.

vines, and vine, and vines

Bordeaux is a big city (France's 3rd largest) so back to traffic and noise.  The apartment we rented is not in the center which is bad, but it is quiet and cheap.  Just a long way from anywhere.  

Going to have to learn the bus system.

We had difficulty with the internet and again Corey our son in law came to the rescue.  I don't know what we would do without him.  Finally, up and running.  Got some laundry done, hung up and crashed.

Today our plan was to get to the store and buy some groceries, then have lunch.  Mission accomplished.  It is a struggle, because so few speak English, but my high school/ college French is paying off.  Fortunately this is not our first rodeo with apartments and stores, etc.  

Jerry found a place to eat lunch about 2 miles away, so we hoofed it up there, checking the map all the way. Again, this is an old city, and there are not too many straight streets, but we found  Au Roi Carotte, which was fabulous and quite inexpensive.  Madame did not speak any English, but Monsieur did and came out and talked with us.  I had translated the menu.  He was impressed.  We both had duck breast with port wine sauce, salad, and frites.  Glass of wine.  Total....30 euros.  Not bad.

 Stopped by a grocery to buy what we forgot this morning, then home now.  Jerry sleeping.  I am talking with you.

We may venture out on the bus today.  We bought a week long pass that is unlimited rides, so we might just try and get a feel for the surroundings.  Eating in tonight.  Bought stuff for pasta primervia. and of course a bottle of Bordeaux wine.