Boat Tour of Bordeaux

 After a quick sandwich and a tiny rest, we were off to the afternoon boat tour.  It was perfect, warm weather, so the museums will just have to wait until the next trip.

First we headed upriver, under the low brick bridge built at the behest of napoleon, who was annoyed at crossing the river by boat.  The tide varies by 15 feet or so, and the current is very swift, so we could understand why he would be irritated. 

 Upriver there are fishing huts like these, not mean for living, but half in and half out of the water, with nets ready to dip into the river for eels or fish. 

Downriver there is this more modern bridge that links the port city to the quiet side of the river. The village below had been isolated until the 1960s when this bridge went in.  Our guide said that even now not many people stop at the village, so despite being right underneath the bridge, it still has a small town atmosphere. 

 As we went by, this barge was going upriver, with two sections of the Airbus as cargo.  The side of the barge says "AIRBUS on board".  Our guide told us to expect a show when we got back to our dock. 

 The old homes along the old port riverside. 

 As we got back to our dock, the problem was clear.  The barge was pretty tall, the brick bridge was pretty low.  The current was pretty stiff, and there was a brisk breeze from the stern. 

 The barge waited and maneuvered for about an hour as people gathered at the riverside to watch. 

 The barge would get close, then back off, straighten out and try again. 

 We got a little bored so switched to checking out the muskrats on the riverback.  They had been imported from the US for their fur, but their fur isn't all that good.  Now they are just pests.  Entertaining, but pests. 

 The barge. 

 The muskrat with pizza. 

 The barge finally goes for it. 

Show's over! 

Walking Tour of Bordeaux

 A few highlights of our walking tour of Bordeaux... Above, the oldest cafe in town; below, a traditional ironwork balcony;

 the facade of L'eglise de Notre-Dame;

 the interesting, and old, arches of the church interior;

 the altar;

 a carousel a few blocks away, closed up in the early morning;

 the old and new of the electric tram in front of the old Grand Theatre;

 the mirror fountain at its lowest ebb;

 above the mirror fountain misting;

 the most beautiful balcony in Bordeaux, according to our guide;

 the traditional light fixtures seen throughout the town;

and the stylized scallop shell that guides pilgrims on the trail of Santiago de Compostela in Spain -- the same trail we saw in the Pyrenees a few years ago; 

 finishing at the Porte De Caillou, where kings and queens would enter the town to pay a visit. 

 Turning away from the Porte, we found this interesting and very modern fountain along the sidewalk; this is what you get when streets are closed to traffic.  We made our way across town to the Cathedral St. Andre, too big to fit in a single photo, no matter how far away one gets. 

Then back to the hotel to rest up before the afternoon boat tour. 

Off to Bordeaux!

 

 It took two cars to take the assembled multitudes into Langon to deliver Jeanne and Anne to the train for their return to the Gite.  Then Tom and I followed Christian, Berengere and Claire to the town of Auros to make an essential purchase -- foie gras and geziers (duck gizzards) for the road.  Then they returned to Sauviac and we headed to Bordeaux. 

 Getting to our hotel was a challenge, since most of the streets in the old toen area are closed to auto traffic.  Tom found a precarious parking spot while I got out to look for the hotel on foot.  Once located, we drove off to find parking, then got the hotel a few minutes away.  all of that was a blessing since the hotel was off of all roads open to traffic, and even on a small side street away from the pedestrian traffic.  Very quiet, and very restful.

After that introduction to Bordeaux, we decided to orient ourselves with a walking tour of the neighborhood. 

  The Theatre de la Comedie, and a tricycle taxi -- the old and new? 
And pastries! 

 The Monument of the Girondains -- a tower with two magnificent fountains, and a cock signifying France, and many more symbols and statues. 

 Horses with either serpent or fish tails, and a couple that looked like crocodile tails.  These below are hooves with claws. 

 The cock. 

 On into the town, a quiet colonnade. 

This is the mirror fountain along the riverbank.  The water varies from only a fraction of an inch to a couple of inches, to a fog of mist to burbling gushes.  Lots of fun for everyone. 

Sauviac and the Wine Country

A visit to the church in Sauviac -- Claire made a call and the guardienne made an appointment for us to see the church -- she simply gave us the key!

 A tiny altar set up in the sacristy.

 And what could be better after a trip to church?  Lunch! 

 

 Then Jeanne took us on a car trip to remind us of where we were -- two chateaux over 500 years old that have been making wine at least that long.  the first, Chateau Malle, we had not heard of before.  We had a nice tour of the house which is still in the same family that founded it over 500 years ago, and a tasting of the Sauternes made there.  Even I liked it. 

 The second chateau was harder to find, easily explained after we stopped in the village of Sauternes to ask for directions.  the name is famous, but there is no sign.  Voila -- Chateau Yquem, which we understand to be one of the finest, if not the finest wines made anywhere.

The chateau itself was closed, but a guardien told us to walk around, take photos, enjoy the grounds, which we did.  Later we saw him in his golf cart, and he proceeded to describe the winery and the wines and told about the Chateau. 

Then Jeanne took us on a car trip to remind us of where we were -- two chateaux over 500 years old that have been making wine at least that long.  the first, Chateau Malle, we had not heard of before.  We had a nice tour of the house which is still in the same family that founded it over 500 years ago, and a tasting of the Sauternes made there.  Even I liked it. 

 Then it was back to Claire's for an apero on the terrace, and a lovely dinner inside.