Bordeaux

Today we went into Bordeaux.  We figured we should check out the big city, even though I didn't have a "list" of things we needed to see, and I was good either way if we didn't actually go at all.  But we were only 30 minutes from the ciy centre so we thought we would go for a little while and be home in a few hours.  And the one thing I read about the City is that it is  lovely, small version of Paris.

Bordeaux caught us all off guard... We LOVED it!  Love, as in maybe more than Paris I think!  (Except no one can compete with the Eiffel tower and the view from it... but that's one thing.)

 

It was Sunday so there were very few shops open, other than the restaurants.  Most of the city centre was pedestrian, so it had a very relaxed feeling, without the busy-ness and noise of traffic.  The architectural was beautiful.  They have cathedrals that were pretty impressive (Notre Dame is nice but it's not crazy special, and it's super busy with tourists) and since it was Sunday we stumbled on a service taking place so we stood in the foyer to listen.  The other one, we walked right in and sat down.  We watched everyone take communion and afterwards they sang a hymn that was familiar to us... with the pipe organ and the singing, it was amazing.  Gave me goosebumps.

(My one negative about Bordeaux... public toilets are impossible to find.  You can't just walk into Macdonalds and use their bathroom, you have to buy something and on your receipt there is a code to open the door.  Had I known it would be so hard to find a bathroom, I would've bought a burger just for the stupid code.   I thought I was going to die.)

We had a very nice lunch on one of the large pedestrian streets.  It was just a very nice, relaxing day!


When we got home, the doorbell rang, with the neighbour asking for the kids to come for a swim in their pool.  Um, yes please!  I went back to get them at 7:00 pm, and they asked us to stay for a drink (they had other guests as well).  4  1/2 hours later..... a glass or two of fantastic local wine, followed by a dinner that she whipped up when I wasn't looking (a huge couscous salad, baguettes), then more wine, and a platter of cheeses and more baguettes.  By then it was dark, so we headed inside and they served coffee with fresh fruit and dried figs.  We stumbled across the road with very happy, tired children at 11:30 pm! I love how the French entertain... very simple, relaxed.  Easy.