Bordeaux, France
June 8-9See photos below
Our last day in France would be spent in the city of Bordeaux, a place I know very little about beside the fame surrounding wine in the region. Therefore, I had no idea what to expect when our bus finally rolled into the station. The only thing we knew was that we had a long walk to our budget hotel; emphasis on “budget.” The walk was long, and the high temperature didn’t help our cause. Although I have gotten used to a perpetual sweat every time I shoulder my pack, it’s still a bit icky peeling my shirt off my back whenever we arrive at our destination. When we arrived at the hotel, the desk was unattended. We waited, and waited some more before someone showed up ten minutes later to check us in. At this point we were both overheated, a bit dehydrated, and wanting a bed to lie down on for a few minutes before walking the city. We eventually got everything sorted and were shown to our micro room, probably the smallest hotel room I have ever seen or been in. I’m not complaining, it had everything necessary including a teeny tiny little bathroom with just enough room for a toilet and shower. After a quick rinse and siesta, we headed back out into the heat to see what we could with the limited time we had.
We took the bus from the industrial park where our hotel was which dropped us in front of a tram stop. It was so packed we had to wait two rounds to find a car with enough space for two more. Finally we squeezed on, taking the slow ride across the bridge and into the heart of the city. When we stepped off, I was surprised how much I liked what I saw. The brown stone buildings had a soft glow in the midday light that I couldn’t help but appreciate. The streets were packed with tourists and locals alike. The squares full with families, parents enjoying a glass of wine and kids chasing each other around fountains and statues. Our walk took us past quaint businesses, shops full of confections, ice cream and gelato stands, and plenty of cigarette smoke. It is quite bizarre, being in a place for only a single day. No history or knowledge to fall back on, and no need to remember where things are because the next day we will be gone. Anyway, we kept going. We knew dinner was coming up, but before eating we wanted to enjoy some proper French wine one last time before leaving the country the next day. We sat under a large umbrella of a restaurant in one of the squares and each ordered a glass of regional Cabernet. We sat and talked, reminiscing on our trip thus far, laughing at memories we had made, how good the wine was, how cute all of the kids running around were, basically appreciating anything and everything that came to mind.
After polishing off the wine, we started the search for our dinner. Not too far from the square where we just were, we noticed a small Vietnamese spot. It was still a bit early so it was nearly empty, but we decided to give it a shot anyway. It had been a while since either of us had enjoyed some good asian cuisine, so we didn’t pass up the opportunity. It turned out to be the right decision, and soon after we ordered, people started to file in, quickly filling the restaurant. Our food came out soon after, and it proved to be the perfect meal. After satisfying our hunger, we took the long way back to the train that would take us over the bridge once again. Passing bars, restaurants, shops, we continued until we made it to the river. We strolled past a massive infinity fountain, a low-key wine festival on some grassy patches, and a busker playing Ed Sheeran. They always play Ed Sheeran. While all of this was going on, the sun was slowly setting beyond the skyline, casting golden light over everything in sight. It was the perfect way to end the night, as well as conclude our time in France. We took the tram back over the water and walked the last few miles to the hotel before a morning flight to Italia the next day.
