My Day out in Bordeaux – (and his)
Although it is the weekend we had to get up even earlier than usual this morning. The morning flight to Geneva left at half past eight and so we needed to leave home at six fifteen. My daughter has gone snowboarding for her winter holiday.
After several weeks of pouring, drenching, soaking, miserable rain the sun came out today. Our valentine’s evening hadn’t gone as planned due to work commitments so Bertrand wanted to take me to this great restaurant not far from the airport. We had four hours to kill. As we were in Bordeaux anyway we decided to take a walk along the quay. It was really lovely to stroll along in the sunshine. We were too early for the crowds, they started to arrive just before midday when we left to go for lunch. I have been to Bordeaux many times and driven along the quay but this was the first time I have walked along it. I do love the architecture of Bordeaux it is magnificent. Even the customs (Duane) office is wonderful. Bertrand enjoyed telling me all about each building and what the old buildings used to be before they became hotels. It is like having my own tour guide being married to Bertrand, he knows such a lot about places. Maybe I should hire him out.
Here is a gallery of pictures from the day out. Please feel free to click on them to see them on full screen.
When we reached the Place Des Quinconces there was a surprise there for Bertrand’s enjoyment but first. I want to know if this is just me, you will let me know won’t you?
Here is a statue of Montaigne, one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance
Statue of Montaigne
I thought some of the details on this statue were amazing so I took a close up. Now Bertrand said only I would focus on this particular part, He thinks most would do a close up of the face but I liked ….
Montaigne’s button hole
…….. his button-hole the best.
I wanted to get up to the statue to measure the button to see if it would go through the button-hole but Bertrand said we aren’t allowed to climb the monuments in France. Shame! I think that button is quite thick and might not actually be able to go through the button-hole. What do you think?
Would that button go through that button-hole?
Anyway. As I said there was a great surprise for Bertrand in the Place Des Quinconces and here are some of the photos of his special day out. Again feel free to click to make the images bigger.
I was very pleased to find the Citroen Traction as I have one in my next book. I wanted to see it up close to be able to describe it in detail. This one is not in the original state but it gave me a good idea of the size and the form.
It was a great day out for both of us and we had a lovely Valentine’s lunch after our wander. Impromptu days like this are often the best don’t you think?
Very much so!
I haven’t been to Bordeaux for years…and haven’t they cleaned it all up!
A lovely place to wander, even then…but it’s good to be able to see details more clearly…even buttonholes!
It is very clean. There are still a few buildings in the little side streets that could do with a clean but they are in the main being refurbished. I hadn’t seen it before but Bertrand told me all about it. The Borderlaise are very impatient though. The lights change and someone honks their horn. They seem to be a hurry to get everywhere – maybe it’s my age and spending so much time in the country.
Oh I love Bordeaux and at the risk of ruining our beautiful online friendship I’ll have a day out with Bertrand in Bordeaux anyday
It is so nice to have a bit of decent weather isn’t it!
He is a joy to be with actually. He is interested in everything and he knows so much. If he doesn’t know it he will find out. No it won’t spoil our friendship I’ll come too. If you want to stand around and look at the cars though I’ll nip off to the museum. Yes – great to have the sun at last. The river was very high but there was no flooding there as there is in Saintes.
Sounds like a good plan!
Cool photos! There is something quintessentially amazing about European architecture.
Can’t believe the price of food there – looks about double the New Zealand figures, but that’s France for you. (I recall a place I found in Paris once where it was cheaper to buy beer than it was to buy coffee…I had the beer, but my wife insisted on having coffee, anyway.)
I love taking photos. Yes the architecture here is magnificent and it varies so much from region to region.
Food is expensive. You can buy a relatively cheap meal for about 12-15 euros a head In some places. I have been pleasantly surprised sometimes. The wine is very good as well and much cheaper than either coffee or soft drinks or beer which is mainly imported.
Wow!
Lovely shots!
You obviously had fun!
Thank you! I am glad you like them. It was a wonderful day.
That’s good to know. You are welcome!
Good photo’s what camera do you use? I think the button would fit through the button hole, remember fabric (although this is prob granite, doh!) will expand a little and the sculptor clearly took great care in getting the detail correct, even down to the button hole. Well done for picking it out
I have two cameras but my Cannon appears to have gone snowboarding. These were taken by my Lumix FZ48.
Having a granite coat does have it’s drawbacks.
I have a couple of Cannon’s for when I am on hold, not that I take both, or going somewhere specific otherwise a little Kodak on my belt wherever I go, you never know when something is going to catch your eye…
What a splendid day out for both of you, Kerry! I’ve never visited Bordeaux but have read a lot about it and this post makes me want to go there even more. Super photos and I love the detail of the buttonhole and button and yes, I think the button could be squeezed through in real life.
You really should make the trip next time you are in France Perpetua. Bordeaux is a wonderful city.
Looks like a great time. If ever I go there and see that button hole, I’ll let you know what I think. For now I am at a loss for words.
It was a great day out. I still don’t think it would fit.
Wonderful post. Shared it with my husband~
Hope he enjoyed it too.
Always love your combo of photos and story….my fav pic, the cobblestone, lovely.
I love that picture too – the way the stones are laid is wonderful. Imagine laying all the cobbles in that road. It must have taken ages.
That is what makes Europe special….artisans over ages.
It is lovely and very special.
I spent the day in Cognac where there is also great architecture but not a patch on Bordeaux. The beautiful buildings of Cognac are in great need of cleaning.
Sadly I went without a camera or the flooding along the Charente would have made spectacular photo’s
I think the stitching on the buttonhole is quite remarkable. But the button is too large to fit into it.
I thought that of Cognac when I went there recently. The buildings need to be sand blasted. What I like about Cognac is breathing in the Angel’s share.
One thing I loved about Ireland was that we could see history, just walking down the street.
That button would fit. In fact, I can show you how to cut a hole the size of a US dime in a sheet of paper, and put a US quarter (much larger) through it.
Not if the hole is made of stone, though.
You are right. Stone makes it a lot more difficult.
History is all around us – it’s great.
un grand plaisir de pouvoir lire plus rapidement ..lol .. j’ai l’air moins bête à lire à voix haute derrière mon écran
tu as réalisé de superbes photos de cette magnifique ville … Bordeaux est une de mes villes préférée , toujours bien entretenue et une architecture ancienne en très bon état .
j’ai lu que tu avais de la famille à Saintes, je me doute qu’ils doivent être sous l’eau, déjà entre Noel et le jour de l’an .. la charente débordait et avait envahi les champs aux alentours de COgnac …
Merci d’avoir mis le traducteur
Salut Framboise et bienvenue sur mon blog. Merci pour avoir suggéré que j’ajoute un traducteur. J’adore Bordeaux il est plein de ces magnifiques bâtiments et des statues. Même les pavés sont superbement mis. Saintes est inondé et les routes impraticables à Cognac. Ma fille est au lycée à Jonzac, qui est également inondé. Nous pourrions nager dans le parc si nous le souhaitions.
Sounds like a great day. I enjoyed your galleries.
It was wonderful. Thanks – I am pleased you like them.
I was in Bordeaux earlier this week and it looked stunning, such a difference from when we first arrived here 19 years ago, the quays were still a long line of tatty hangers and it was all a bit grubby.. Juppé did good there.
It is lovely there now. I saw some pictures of the quays from just before the project started and they did look very tatty.
You are so lucky to have a place like this to visit. So much culture, so much of an “old” feel. It sounds very romantic…
You are right. We often don’t appreciate what is directly on our doorsteps. I think my move to another country made me appreciate the culture here although there was no shortage of it in England. But the pictures of your local town show that there is a lot of culture there too, it looks old in parts.
Thank you for sharing! France is my dream destination, and I love any chance to hear about it or see its beauty.
You are welcome. I love France and I feel very lucky to live here.