Origin: Arcachon, Utrillo-1 Rue Sebastopol
Destination: Bordeaux, Quartier historique, 31 Rue de Argentiers
Sax jazz music from the Place du Palais this evening reaches us in our third floor walkup apt right in the historic center of Bordeaux where we have caught our breath and rested for 3 nights. (Here's a view to Argentiers street below our front window and a by-necessity-abstracted view from the back window to our bicycles locked in the courtyard four floors below)
Quite by chance, we are across the narrow street from the hostel for pilgrims headed to Santiago Compostela in Spain.
The Cathedral of St. Andre and the Basilica of St. Seurin here were and are enroute-destinations for pilgrims from further north. We talked with Fernand, a 90-year-old volunteer at the hostel who will head out again in September--once again by foot to Santiago.
The Cathedral of St. Andre and the Basilica of St. Seurin here were and are enroute-destinations for pilgrims from further north. We talked with Fernand, a 90-year-old volunteer at the hostel who will head out again in September--once again by foot to Santiago.
Bordeaux is a lively city that has invested heavily in infrastructure and restoration to enhance enjoyment for residents and tourists alike: lots of dedicated bike routes for the many cyclists; easy access to trams, buses, boat taxis and more than 100 yard wide well designed Garonne riverfront area for all transportation modes, recreational use, and casual enjoyment.
the Grand Theater, the Bourse, the massive 15th c. defensive portals
Hotel de Ville, Monument aux Girondins and churches to mention just a few.
Bob was disappointed by the Cite du Vin (A huge and invitingly designed modern wine museum along the river).
The near-total dependence on earphone-ephone access is a marvel in multilingual exhibit design that, by Bob's critique, otherwise limits the depth and breadth of information and audience, and doesn't send one away with that I-must-come-again-and-again feeling. We enjoyed the large tasting room near the top for the free glass of wine included with admission.
The near-total dependence on earphone-ephone access is a marvel in multilingual exhibit design that, by Bob's critique, otherwise limits the depth and breadth of information and audience, and doesn't send one away with that I-must-come-again-and-again feeling. We enjoyed the large tasting room near the top for the free glass of wine included with admission.
The Mirror of Water fountain on the river promenade and its reflexions captivate all with its random changes from wet pavement to 2 inches of water to steam mist.
On our bicycles tomorrow we head north across the nearby Pont de Pierre (in background in middle picture) and later into a countryside of vineyards and wineries.
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