Bordeaux.

My Sandals on the SAND DUNES

Bordeaux was one of the sketchiest places we had ever stayed. We walked off the train to find our hotel and walk down our street, boasting strip clubs and escort services. The men are appalling- rude, disgusting. And the homeless people created a little slum in the park across our street. Full on slum, stolen cardboard and tin. So initially, Robyn and I are absolutely, thoroughly disgusted. And the constant harassing is making us feel incredibly unsafe. First impression? I hate Bordeaux. Appalling.

A vineyard we visited

And our hotel? Nothing to brag about. Since it was a suite, there was no maid services. By the end of our stay the garbage inside our room was actually starting to pile, and we had run out of toilet paper. We may as well have gone to join the pleasant fellows in the park slum. And probably one of the most disappointing breakfasts- for €7, at that. Coffee made from a machine. Cereal. And the worst jam I have ever tasted (really? How do you mess up jam?).
Second day there we do our usual wander through the city. Down town is actually quite pleasant- lots of cafes and endearing little shops. Some of the most beautiful Catholic churches as well, and many of them! The walk down the river was nice, and there are many families residing in Bordeaux. If it weren't for going back to the place we were staying, this may be a decent place.
The Wednesday we arranged to go to E'cole du Vin, and learn about wine. Bordeaux is incredibly famous for it's wine, on a world scale. I really enjoyed learning about the wine, the process of creating it, and of course sampling some wines from the area. Particularly I enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon we tried, as well as the sweet white wine. The rest of the day we wandered- all over the city. By the end of our time in Bordeaux we had probably walked every street in the downtown core 15 times.

Jess having some fun with wine barrels

Thursday Robyn and I decide we would like to spend some time at the beach, so we hop on a train to Arachon, on the Atlantic coast. We had heard from someone that the surrounding area hosts the largest sand dune in Europe. We find our way there, and are utterly amazed. Honestly it felt as if we were in Egypt. Only in this one area can you get a conifer forest, a massive sand dune, and beach all within 10 minutes of walking. We spend the day tanning, swimming, and playing in the sand like little kids. As we had walked down the the beach, however, on our way back at the end of the day we had to walk up the dunes. I understand now why people ride camels. Got a nice tan, both of us. Golden brown (especially out of the ordinary for me- yay!).
Friday we arranged for a vineyard tour. We visited two estates in the area, tasting two sweet white wines and two reds. The first vineyard was very small, and run by a spirited French man who didn't speak any english. This was where the sweet white was made. Learned about the 'noble rot' that it takes to produce a sweet white wine, a certain type of fungus that alters the grapes and actually causes them to rot. This creates a grape, when fully ripened, that is withered and very, very concentrated- which is where the wine gets it's sweetness. The second vineyard was much larger, definitely less intimate. I found the reds to be slightly metallic, and preferred the Cab-Sauv from the previous day. Overall, however, a lovely way to spend a day.

Looks all pretty- Bordeaux

Our vineyard tour guide was an eccentric French woman. She provided us with knowledge about French wine, and how it is so superior in almost every manner. Yes. She is incredibly pretentious- it's almost humorous. Until the very end, when she gave the bus a lecture about the demise of civilization. The cause? Youth. The means? The fact that we're not drinking wine. Shame on us guys. We are screwing up royally. Drink French wine, or we will all fall into hellish anarchy- just saying.
The weekend we spend walking walking walking, around and around. Nothing overly eventful. By this point I'm getting sick of this place and just want to get to Paris.
The walk to the train station this morning at 5:45am was interesting. You know you're in a bad area when you rush to walk to the train station because there are cops outside of your door- extra protection? Nope. Just stopping some kids in a car.
Anyhow, now we are on the train to Paris!

stolen goods market wheu

Only 10 more days left in our trip. Pretty crazy how long it's been. Can't wait for Paris. Or the cleanliness of my environment when I return home.
-Jess