Join us as we travel across Europe at a leisurely pace.
12/10/22 Bordeaux France
Greetings from beautiful and cold Bordeaux France
We decided to take a short road trip from St. Emilion to Bordeaux for a walking tour. We decided to do the trip on Saturday because of the markets and to avoid traffic, which is terrible here. Bordeaux is a big city, over 800,000 in the metro area, and has an excellent tram system. We decided to drive into the city because it’s Saturday and much less traffic on the road.
First stop, Marche des Capucins, with a parking garage for the trusty Peugeot right above it.Very nice covered market, both outside and inside. It’s Saturday, so lots of flea market stuff on the outside.Fresh fish and seafood, not Cadiz, but still nice.Bordeaux is famous for its oysters! Every market needs several bars.Beef, it’s what’s for supper!PorkBakery, only two. Bakery’s were a little scarce in Bordeaux 🤔My Buddy, the olive guy.Roasted chickens, remember lots of folks here don’t have ovens and no one has a BBQ. It’s not France without cheese.And last but not least the produce stand. Produce is everywhere on Saturday in the big cities. Ok, walking tour says tour guide Cindy. First up, St. Michel, under renovation as you can see. Note the produce tables everywhere.Ethnic foods everywhere.Porte de Bourgogne, old entryway into the city. Porte de la Grosse ClocheHeavy Turkish influence in this area, fantastic Turkish delights, beautiful.Let’s enter the old town.Stores are decorated for the holidays, quite lovely.Pont de Pierre, bridge over the river Garonne.Another entryway, Porte Cailhau.Place de La Bourse The French love antique markets. Remember, their homes, in lots of cases are over 200 years old. This is a typical booth in an antique market. Some really, really beautiful stuff.Monument aux Girondins Other side of the same monument. We walked through a Basque Christmas market, just beautiful. It’s interesting, both the Spanish and the French claim the Basque county and they would like to be independent ✔️Presbytere de l’eglise Notre-Dame, a Presbyterian church.Now we pop out into Vieux Bordeaux, or New Bordeaux. This is an upscale shopping district, and two weeks before Christmas on a Saturday, it’s getting packed. Let’s head home.Last stop, Place de la Victoire.
Ok, I got off easy, 20,000 steps, no hills, and not many stairs. Great day!
I wouldn’t tell you Bordeaux is a beautiful city, it’s a little dirty and grimy. But, with some beautiful sights along the way.
Trafton’s European Tour 2022/2023 
Leave a comment