Blogs from Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France, Europe - page 11

TRAINS TO SPAIN Day 10 Spent the whole day in transit to San Sebastian, Spain. Nantes to Bordeaux. Bordeaux to Hendaye. Hendaye to San Sebastian. Around both Nantes and Bordeaux were countless vineyards. For miles and miles there were vines. The landscape changed drastically between Bordeaux and Hendaye. It began with the vines then changed to lakes and then to almost marsh land and finally as you approached Hendaye it became very mountainous. I finally arrived at Hendaye and took a short local train to San Sebastian. As I sat on the train it began pouring rain. And not just a little but loads. I got off the train in San Sebastian but because my train was late I got there after dark and after the tourist info centre closed, which meant no map to ... read more

I can see why Bordeaux is now an Unesco World Heritage Site. It's stunning! Lots of 18th century architecture and a beautiful river to walk along which is particularly nice as the suns's setting. Sadly it was raining buckets the whole time I was in Bordeaux, so things looked a bit grey (actually kind of reminded me of London). The city is known for its wine, but alas I only drank the cheapest plonk I could find so I can't comment on its quality! I stayed with my second ever Couch Surfing host Maxime and his flat mate Paul. They are very cool people! We listened to heaps of great music. They took me to a costume party with a 'funky' theme. Didn't exactly have much in my pack to choose from but (unsuprisingly) I was ... read more

Kvardagen har endeleg senka seg over livet til Johannessen. Etter to månadar med feire og ein månad der ting nesten er kome i gang er det godt å endeleg verkelge være i gong. Eg har slått rot nokså nøyaktig 30 min i frå universitetet og trivst med det. Etter å ha leita lenge og vel, budd på sofaen og litt rundt om kring var det glimrande å finne stad å bu. Eg hadde hatt det som premiss at eg ville bu med franskmenn, og det gjorde at det heile trakk litt ut. Eit innblikk i korleis det er her får det dersom eg beskriv ein kvardag og ei helg. Og det er nett eit innblikk eg vil gjer, og derfor følgjer ei beskriving av det som kan gje dette innblikket; kvardagen i Bordeaux. (Det er kanskje ... read more

My day started off with another long training run. This time is was 18 miles. I’ve about had it with the long runs, but at least this one was through Bordeaux wine country. I set out around 7:30, heading Southeast towards a point with which I was familiar. Around the second mile, I saw some girl out for a run and paced off her for a few miles. This was a huge help. Heading mostly north, she wove us through several vineyards until she finished. Either that or she “fake finished” to get away from the perceived stalker that followed her for four miles. I continued into the hills to the north of Blaye, passing by several more vineyards, a couple churches and some cemeteries. That was about all I saw on this peaceful Saturday morning. ... read more

So here we are on the road again, this time with Stuart and Stella (our hopefully trusty steed). Leaving the grey and gloom of Blighty behind we settle in for the overnight ferry. Uneventful, the Captain warned of rough seas but we braved the restaurant and slept like babies. Things take a turn for the worse in Nantes where our first meal, in this country renowned for its food, is a kebab. I blame the bar we stumble across where the only available drinking receptacle requires you to hold it at arms length and catch the resulting spout of liquid. Takes a bit of practice but we teach the students hows its done (never challenge a man who has no job to get up for). We get the gourmet dining back on course on day 2 ... read more