Bordeaux

Bonjour everyone from Bordeaux, France! 

I got a good few hours of sleep last night though I do think I sleep wakes which I quite often do when I know I have to get up early! Things had moved around in my room like sometimes happens at him when I sleep talk. 

Got my cab at 5.30. After asking the man three times last night (8 pounds) I made sure I had the right money only to be told by the cabbie at the airport that it was 10. But I stood my ground and argued until he let me pay 8. Yay me!!

Got my flight to Bordeaux and slept pretty much the whole way. I got the same weird feeling landing here as I did in Dublin the other week. I flew 1.5 hours and I'm in a completely different country. Very different language, different currency etc. It's amazing how close everything is!

Got the bus into town and then walked to my hostel. Couldn't check in yet so sat down and used the wifi to do some research. I think this was the first time I arrived in a city having done zero research! Those who know me well know I'm super organised and plan everything when I go away. But this year is so full that I hadn't planned this far ahead and the year is flying so France is here already!!

But I found out what to do so set off. A few things I've noticed about Bordeaux - there are a LOT of homeless people. The tram noises sound exactly the same as Melbourne which keeps weirding my brain out because it makes me think I'm at home! And just as the other twice I've been to France, everyone here thinks I'm French. My pale complexion and brown hair suggest so, and then whenever I check in at a hostel or hotel they think I'm French. Claire is French, and my last name is French! So I've lost count of how many times I've said 'sorry, Anglais, no Français' today haha. 

My first stop today was Place de la Victoire, a square with a column and gate in it commemorating the victory in WWI. From here I walked up Rue St Catherine, a 1.2km shopping street that reminded me a little of mine and mum's walks down the Strøget in Copenhagen last July! 

Then I arrived at the Pey-Berland Tower but it was closed until 2 so I decided to go back later. At this point it was sunny but upon walking to my next stop, Place Gambetta, the grey clouds descended. Place Gambetta had some nice gardens and it looked as if a festival had been happening here recently with tents and rides set up. 

Next up was the Girondins Monument, finished in 1902 to honour the casualties of the revolutionary terror. It's in Quinconces Square, Europe's largest square. Hard work getting a picture of me here, I've gone from a country where people come up to me offering to take photos in the same language as me to one where I speak about ten words and people are a lot more hesitant. A lot less people speak English in Bordeaux than in Paris and Nice from previous experience! But with the help of my phrase book and playing charades, I'm getting there haha. 

Then I walked along the river for a while. It was quite grey but still nice. I passed through Place de la Bourse with its gorgeous palace (that you can't go inside unfortunately) and then to Place du Parlement with its government buildings. While I was making my way back to the riverside path, I stumbled across a cute little bakery and bought some flan that Bordeaux is apparently famous for. I continued along the river to Pont de Pierre, a pretty bridge built by order of Napoleon. Here I sat and ate the flan, it was amazing!

Next up was the city's most famous church - Basilique St Michel built around the end of the 14th century. I had a look around inside and then continued to Grosse Cloche, a huge gate with a beautiful clock face and bell. What I've noticed today (especially with these last two buildings) is that the architecture here is quite gothic! Reminds me of Prague a little bit. 

Finally I went back to Pey-Berland tower which was now open and guess what! The sun decided to make another appearance! It was built in 1440 next to St Andrews Church because due to marshy ground the church were concerned if it was built as a part of the church itself the vibrations of the tower when its bells rang might damage the church. And I can see why! It struck 3pm while I was up there and the bells went on for minutes - SO loud!

The $400 I paid for my UK visa started to pay itself off because the lady let me up the 233 stairs for free because technically I am now an EU resident! Saving $8 - woo! I climbed the stairs and was treated to a c'este magnifique view at the top of all of Bordeaux. It was actually good doing the tower at the end of my day because I could see all of the buildings I had already visited and knew what they were! I sat up here a while and enjoyed the view and then headed back down. 

For some strange reason my hostel don't allow you to go in your room between 11am-4pm so I had a little bit of time to kill after this. After passing what honestly seemed like 50 hair dressing salons I got the hint the universe was trying to send me. I've been trying to find a "cheap" haircut for a few weeks now but the lowers to could find in London was equivalent to $40-50 Aussie. Somehow even though no one in the salon I entered spoke English I managed to bargain having my hair trimmed for 5 euros (about $7). Still unsure how I managed that! But my hair feels lots less ratty now. This is the longest I've ever travelled for and I don't want to look and feel too horrible!!!! Haha. 

Headed back to the hostel and had a bit of a rest. Then set off again to book some things for tomorrow. Bonus of travelling alone - got to the grand opera to book a tour for tomorrow and nabbed the last spot because I'm by myself. Bonus of being under 25 and once again technically an EU resident? I got the ticket for free !!! Then I went to the tourist information and booked myself a wine tasting half day tour for Sunday. Would've liked a full day one but those start two days after I leave, oh well. 

On the way back I looked in some shops along Rue St Catherine. Luckily for my bank account even though I went into Galeries Lafayette, H&M, Promod and Calzedonia, I didn't see anything I wanted to buy. Mum of all people will know that this level of restraint in these shops is very disciplined for me! That's what the thought of upcoming rent in London does to you I suppose!

I did however buy myself some dinner. I bought a strawberry macaron. Oh my god, it melted in my mouth. And then I bought a baguette with four cheeses in it, and again. Oh my god. Food here is just as amazing as England! Lucky I'm still doing so much walking. 

Now I'm sitting in my room chilling out. Thus far the only other person on my dorm is a French lady who doesn't speak English. She's been gone an hour or so now so I've the place to myself! I'm exhausted due to getting up early this morning and just being on the go. The tiring part of travelling is adjusting all the time. I had just started to settle into England, knowing the trains, different words for things etc. And now I have to adjust all over again to a new language, timezone and surrounding I'm general. All part of the fun though :)

The rest of my night consists of devouring an entire punnet of strawberries and watching some of my tv shows. Perfect!

Aurevoir!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox