Is my title punny enough for you?

Moving along through France, I couldn’t avoid wine country, and that leads us straight to Bordeaux (I should say whether you’re a fan of wine or not, this is still an interesting place to visit). It took me 2.5 hours via train from Toulouse, but it definitely didn’t feel that long. The center of town is a bit away from the train station, so my hostel was a half hour walk away. Once I got in, I headed out to dinner, and it quickly started pouring! I seem to have bad luck with the skies opening up on this trip!

My only full day in Bordeaux was a beautiful one, with the sun shining, and temperatures high enough to go out without a scarf (gasp, I know, but the French are still wearing one anyway, go figure). I started out the morning with a visit to the Cathedral, which seemed somewhat more poignant following the fire at Notre Dame the night before. I found the architecture outside to be of more interest to me than what was inside but that being said, the stained glass windows always catch my eye.

Bordeaux is a fairly easily walkable town, so I next walked to la grosse cloche, which is a big bell, although it also has a big clock on its side as well. The time is accurate although the date read in June, so not 100% perfect, but it’s still a fun thing to see randomly as you walk through town.

As you walk along, there’s also a Basilica, although I only saw the outside of it so I can’t fully attest to its “cool” factor. However, the exterior is beautiful, although not as striking as the basilicas in Lyon or Marseille that I’ve seen so far on this trip.

I also took some time to learn about Aquitaine’s history at the Musée d’Aquitaine. It was a seemingly never ending museum that touched on the history of the region from prehistory all the way to the 21st century. It was definitely impressive to see so many artifacts and relics of history, as well as to see how old this area of France truly is! At one point, I did stop reading the information cards and just started looking because it got to be a bit too much… (additionally, the English translations stop once you enter the Middle Ages, and don’t start back up for a while, which could’ve contributed to my lack of willingness to read as well).

Since the weather was so lovely, I had a picnic on the esplanade des Quinconces, or at least, on the Quai beneath it and overlooked the water as I basked in the sunlight (you can also partake in the very French hobby of people watching). As I was so near, I went over to the jardin public, which is a large expanse of park (a lovely escape from the bustling city life), and even contains a botanic garden! I believe the fine arts museum is also housed in the garden, so there are a multitude of things you can visit there! I love the big parks that exist in big cities here, and the fact that so many people visit and spend time in them.

The thing that kind of made the biggest impression on me in Bordeaux was this thing called the miroir d’eau. It’s a large water pond that serves as a reflecting pool for the buildings surrounding it (although I should say it empties and fills with water so sometimes it’s just a reflective surface). It’s both a play thing for people young and old (who doesn’t get a kick out of splashing through not even ankle deep water), and something beautiful to admire. It’s worth seeing it during the day and at night to truly get the full effect. When the lights on the buildings turn on after sunset, it’s really a sight to see, and makes for some stunning photographs. Many people gather for the photo opportunity, and just for the pretty sight.

Seeing as this is wine country, I would’ve been remiss to not at least taste a small sample. There are two museums for wine: cité du vin (which is very modern, and apparently takes a lot of time to explore), and the museum of trade and wine. I opted for the latter, both due to its smaller price (only €5 at a reduced rate!), and it seemed less intense. For the entry fee, you get to explore some wine caves that discuss the history of the wine industry in Bordeaux, which is quite extensive! It was super interesting to learn about the way wine used to be bottled, how it was traded, and its significance to the area. Moreover, the museum itself is situated in an old wine merchant’s house, so you’re actually stepping through history. After your self guided tour through the two caves, you’re treated to a wine tasting. Having got there earlier in the day, I got essentially a private information session about wine in Bordeaux, and I learned a decent amount. For instance, did you know that the wines are named after grapes (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot…)? Maybe you did, but I certainly didn’t! Bordeaux has six main grapes, three red and three white, as well as six wine production regions. I got to try two wines: a claret, and a red wine, as well as a chocolate covered wine dipped dried grape! I’m not the biggest red wine fan but I actually really enjoyed the claret, and I’m proud to say, drank the whole sample! I may not be a wine connaisseur, but I certainly felt sophisticated doing a wine tasting, and now I know what to look for when I’m testing out what wines best suit my palette. It was honestly a great experience and it was well worth the entry price!

Another highlight of my days in Bordeaux was the fact that I got to meet up with a fellow alumna from Scripps! I don’t mind solo travel, but it becomes that much more enjoyable when you get to do things with other people, and when you have someone to talk to throughout the day! I’m not disparaging the other cities I’ve visited, but it’s been super fun to have a travel buddy, even if only for a day and a half.

That was my Bordeaux adventures! Other interesting things to see include all the portes (doors, sometimes more like giant gates), that are around the city’s circumference, and I’m sure they once held significance regarding entering and exiting, but they’re fairly elaborate and it’s almost comical as they just stand amongst all the modern architecture. One such example is the Porte Cailhau.

I’m headed up North for the last leg of my April holidays, but so far, the cities I’m visiting have yet to disappoint me, and I’m pleased with all I’ve been able to achieve!