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Published: June 28th 2013
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Bordeaux. The final leg of today's adventure took us north, about 200km to the City of Bordeaux. Along the way, Cindy advised that we were going to drive through the longest stretch of pine forest we have ever seen (she has never been to New Brunswick.) This was where I discovered the remarkable application of a beret over the eyes as a mobile sleep aide. Bordeaux is considered by many to be the wine-producing capital of the world. It lies along the Garrone River, almost 100km up-river from the Atlantic, but has a major sea-port presence. The twelve deck residential ship "The World" was tied up alongside the Bourse while we were there. During the war Germany kept a fleet of submarines in Bordeaux from whence they would transit to the Atlantic to harass allied shipping. Glowering, gloomy submarine pens, built to withstand heavy bombing attacks, still stand along the river because they are almost indestructible, nobody knows what else to do with them, and besides, they act as historical, if ugly, reminders of the war years. Other than an ocean of vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, an interesting sight as one enters Bordeaux is an array of what might be hundreds of shacks built all along the east bank of the river. These protrude out over the river and Cindy tells us that they are fishing shacks. Fisher-persons deploy nets from these shacks onto the bottom of the river. When hoisted up they, hopefully, are filled with fresh-water fish, which are sold at relatively steep prices in the fish markets.
Our bus deposited us in the “Place de la Bourse.” This place is wonderful. It is laid out to be entirely pedestrian and recreation friendly (are you listening, Toronto?) and extends along the west bank of the river for several kilometers. Magnificent palaces and parks make up much of the shore-side scenery and the largest reflecting pool in the world doubles the visual impact, especially at night when the buildings are lit up. Street hockey, roller bladeing, basketball and any number of other sports are being played in designated areas all along the recreational area. Young lovers stroll hand in hand and share the occasional smooch. In the Place des Quinconces a huge flea market was underway and a group of re-enactors, celebrating some French military holiday, struggled amidst the toodling of pipes and whanging of drums, to fire off a canon. Eventually succeeding in this, they then strutted about with great pride in their accomplishment.
Inland from the Place, on the Cours Georges Clemenceau, weekend crowds jammed the sidewalks. We had fun with a gaily costumed young lady, accompanied by her entourage of friends, who were celebrating said young lady’s upcoming marriage. They were filled with joy and good fun in the occasion, and despite a language barrier were delighted to meet folks from Canada, and would we take their picture? One could spend a lot of very happy and interesting time in Bordeaux. Our hotel for the next two nights was The Pullman Bordeaux Aquitania, which was clean and comfortable but a long way from anything. Sort of like being in the Holiday Inn in Scarborough when visiting Toronto.
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