France October 2022

Day 2

1 October 2022

Well, as predicted, we slept very well. I was up at 8am and Kirsty emerged at 10.15am. Our room is very dark, and quite once the shutters are closed.

Our plan today is to get to know Bordeaux, and this means walking. Really, it is the only option here as the place is set up for pedestrians. Firstly, we need to arrange our tram/bus/boat passes. I had seen a 3 day pass for 40 euros each, but then I spied an over 60’s pass for 7 days for 10 euros each. Now, to convince them we are over 60.

At the transport office it was an easy convince, they were very polite and when we showed our Driver Licence, the young girl didn’t even raise an eyebrow at our ages. She must have been very well brought up.

Passes done, we set out in the drizzle. Not a fantastic day weather wise. We strike out in a southerly direction down one of the main pedestrian streets. There are a lot of people out and about despite the weather. We arrive at Place Pey Berland where the Cathedral Saint-Andre de Bordeaux is located. The rain really starts to come down, so as good pilgrims we seek refuge inside the Cathedral. It appears there a lot of pilgrims today. At least that is one church out of the way.

When we emerge from the Cathedral our prayers have been answered and the rain has cleared. We continue to head south towards the railway and it is clear as we go that the shops start to change to an eclectic mix. As Kirsty described it, we have gone from Double Bay to Newtown.

We emerge at Place Victoire, through one of the old city gates, Porte d’Aquitaine. Here we navigate east towards the river, looking to confirm our meeting point tomorrow for our food tour. The meeting spot is at a food and produce market, Marche des Capucins. We didn’t spend a lot of time exploring as I’m sure the tour will do that. It looks fantastic, a bit like the Queen Vic. Market in Melbourne, but with a more “interesting” selection of foods.

Moving on, we make it to the river and follow it north along the Quai de la Grave. The buildings along this road scream wealth and prestige. They were no doubt associated with the river trade, probably state run tax collection buildings given their grandeur !!

We completed our circuit west, back to our place. As time was getting on we decided on a late lunch at one of the cafes below our building. As soon as we were seated, it started to pour. Ah well, time for a drink, lunch, coffee and people watch. A simple but delightful lunch, with very helpful waiters.

Everyone we have dealt with have not raised an eyebrow at our crap attempts at French, and English is spoken to us straight away. The guy from the Nespresso shop yesterday couldn’t shut up about his time in Byron Bay !! The taxi driver from yesterday was also great, saying that he knew we were Australian because our bags were so heavy and picking that we were here for at least 3-4 weeks.

The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the rain fall, reading, finding a place for dinner and relaxing. It is after all, a holiday. Knowing that we have 5 more full days here in Bordeaux means we can just chill out when we feel like it.

Just back from dinner, the waste bands are very stretched already. The restaurant, La Brasserie Bordelaise, was a short walk from our place and was fantastic. VERY French with lovely staff and a great atmosphere. A great night out. The last sitting in the restaurant was 11.45pm, very civilised.

The jet lag is still there are it will not be long before head to bed. A big day tomorrow. We just got a message from our food tour leader for tomorrow which recommended that we do NOT eat breakfast. Bon nuit all.

Day 1: 30/9/2022 ( 2 days really, both with the same date)

Currently sitting in the Silver Kris lounge at Singapore and it is 1am Sydney time. Beer in hand, well it is hot here !! Another hour until our flight to Paris.

So far so good. Easy flight in an A380, Singapore are really a great airline. Not overly familiar, but friendly and efficient.

When we left home we had 2 plumbers in attendance, one with a camera. It appears that our bathroom pipe is blocked, as evidenced when Kate had a shower the other day and the bathroom flooded. It was the first time it had been used. The camera revealed that there was a blockage caused by expanding foam. How it got into the pipe is a matter for further discussion !! The plumbers must expect problems as they had photos before the concrete pour showing their handiwork, and showing where someone had applied expanding foam. So, they were quick to avoid any blame.

They were hopeful that a high pressure jet may break up the foam. We are waiting to hear !! We have left a l  o  n   g list of outstanding items for the builders, so when we come back it may be like moving in again except this time to a completed property. Time will tell !!

Our pickup car was spot on time, and very plush. The transition to champagne through check-in and customs was painless and quick. It would have been quicker if I had remembered to warn security that the scanner would light up like a Xmas tree, given my 2 new knees. Anyway, off with my belt and shoes and a quick hand scan later and we were through.

This will resume, no doubt on the TGV to Bordeaux.

As expected, I have resumed whilst speeding across the French countryside. There are freshly ploughed fields as far as the eye can see, and in each field there are a multitude of wind turbines. They don’t seem to interfere with the farming process at all.

The flight from Singapore was uneventful, thank goodness. The seats were excellent and we both slept pretty well. Straight through customs into Paris, with no requests for any of the forms we were told to prepare in advance. Masks are all but gone, but in saying that the couple opposite us on the train have them on, but no one else I can see.

From the airport the TGV train station, we caught the RER (above ground rail) to Paris and then the Metro to Montparnasse (and a bit of walking). The Metro lacks lifts so we a lot of stairs and the bags we were glad to have an hour to spare to rest and recuperate before hopping on the train. Now for 3 hours of more rest and some sights before arriving in Bordeaux. By the time we get into our AirBnB it will have been about 40 hours of travel….at least we should sleep well.

Arrived in Bordeaux and the first impressions are fantastic. Wide boulevards along the river with glimpses down many side streets into the old town, and that was just on the taxi ride to our AirBnB. A beer and cheese plates while we waited to et in, and once in our flat is better that it looked in the photos. Plent of street life on the doorstep, and plenty of room inside.

Now to unpack, shower, explore, buy supplies and relax.

Travel is never easy, especially over such a long period, but Kirsty and I are still talking to each othetr (now that the yelling has stopped).

It is getting very near the time to leave, and we are very excited to be finally able to travel again. Kirsty asked if I was going to do a blog as I had done in the past. I hadn’t given it much thought, but she encouraged me to get at it, so here I am.

To add some context, we have just moved into our new home in Paddington, and although there is some more work needed to make it complete, we are loving it here. Our time away will give the builders the space to finish off the bits and pieces, and we can return to a completed home (hopefully).

This morning we dropped the E-Type off for a restoration. A back to metal repair and respray, new roof, new interior, new exhaust and whatever else “new” they need to do. Another exciting chapter to look forward to upon our return.

Our trip’s rason d’etre is for my brother Kerry’s 70th birthday. Yes, he really is THAT old. The fact that we plan 10 days in Bordeaux, 2 in Versailles (literally in the grounds of Versailles) and 6 in Paris, is all a bonus, plus our time with Ker & KT. An October of indulgence !!

Three more sleeps.

Welcome to WordPress! This is your first post. Edit or delete it to take the first step in your blogging journey.