TWENTY-EIGTH DAY - BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Again, another day of just travelling from Bilba, Spain to Bordeaux, France. Spent most of it sleeping.



View of Biarritz from light house

 
We made just one stop at the French town of Biarritz by the sea. This town was made popular for the rich and famous by Empress Eugenie - Napoleon's wife - who chose this town as a her summer holiday spot and built a huge palace (now a very high priced hotel) just for that.

Our first stop was at the light house at Pointe Saint-Martin where we had a great view of the town. Then we were dropped off at the foreshore for 1 hour 30 minutes free time.

I was invited to join Aussie Di, Cheryl, Les and Sue to find somewhere to eat and, after a walk around, we decided on a little cafe overlooking the water. We had huge bowls of penne pasta and I had a boulognaise sauce with it. It was delicious and I was the only one to manage eating the whole thing - I was kinda hungry.

Instead of rushing around taking photos I'd decided to take it easy and it was great just sitting and watching the waves with good food and great company.

We didn't have much time after our meal so we took a stroll along the promenade and then back to where the bus was picking us up. Then it was off to Bordeaux where I did some more sleeping - after a while, the scenery looks the same.

We entered Bordeaux and our introduction to the old town (every town seems to have "old" and "new" areas) was a drive along the river. Eveyone seemed to be out and about along the river promenade as it was a warm Sunday afternoon. The buildings were the French architecture I was expecting and they are very beautiful. They don't build them like that anymore.



Esplanade des Quinconces

The people who wanted to see some of Bordeaux, including me, were dropped of at a large square called Esplanade des Quinconces which has a fountain monument to the Girondins, bourgeois National Assembly deputies during the French Revolution, 22 of whom were executed in 1793 after being convicted of Counter-Revolutionary activities.
The entire 50m-high ensemble, completed in 1902, was dismantled in 1943 by the Germans so the statues could be melted down for their 52 tonnes of bronze. Restoration took years and was not completed until 1983.

Then we all split up and went our own ways to explore the city. Kathryn and Peter let me tag along with them. We walked down a small street and found ourselves in front of the extravagant Regent's hotel.

Part of Place de la Bourse

We walked down Cours du Chapeau Rouge and took pictures of a square called Place de la Bourse with a fountain called "The Three Graces" in the centre and the Stock Exchange on one side.

This lead us to the river promenade across the road from the Place de la Bourse. And, as I said, everyone seemed to be out enjoying the weather and walking along the promenade. Our walk took us back to the Esplanade des Quinconces and time to catch the bus to our hotel.

Once at the hotel, we had about an 1hour and 30 minutes before dinner at 7pm. I ended up being the only Australian at our table - we had the three Americans travelling together Peter, Sharon and Di, then there was Ken and Carla, and Jean and James. It was slightly boring as they started to criticise how this and that isn't like in America, etc. I had to really hold my tongue and it was good that I kept food in there at all times. I couldn't get out of there quick enough.

Tomorrow, we're taking the train to Paris and my holiday is almost over.