Bordeaux, France
There’s nothing like the prospect of exploring new territory to get a weary traveler up early in the morning. The eight hour train ride from Paris to Bordeaux started at the Montparnasse station within walking distance of my hotel. I had purchased a reservation for about $6 the day before which included a 2 hour stopover in Nantes. The beautiful ride through the Loire Valley took us through LeMans and Angers before we arrived in Nantes around 9 AM. It was a gorgeous day and I walked around the central part of the city with its wide boulevards and classic edifices. Of particular note was the Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne protected by a water-filled moat and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Once back on the train we headed south down the Atlantic coast of France, getting an occasional glimpse of the water along the way.
Hotel Regina
Arriving at Bordeaux at around 2 PM I immediately found a hotel near the train station. While nothing fancy, the Hotel Regina easily met my minimum criteria for lodging, including convenient location, safety, and cleanliness. In addition, it had a friendly staff and I was allowed to go into breakfast before serving time the next morning so that I could make the early train to San Sebastian, Spain.
A Walking Tour
Located in Aquitaine on the Gironde estuary, Bordeaux is much more than just a city in the heart of wine country. My walking tour took me through narrow streets filled with visitors, young and old, enjoying the elegant shops and sidewalk cafes. In short order I was able to locate the Cathedrale St-Andre, the flea market, the bell tower of Eglise St-Michel, the Great Bell of Bordeaux (Grosse Cloche) and the Monument aux Girondins, which commemorates the leaders from the area who were guillotined during the Revolution.
The Water Mirror
Even with all these interesting landmarks, I would have to say that my favorite spot in Bordeaux was the Water Park known as the Miroir d’eau or Water Mirror. It is located between the river bank and the Place de la Bourse and consists of a large square filled with water only 2 cm deep and accompanied by beautifully manicured gardens. Here throngs of people hang out alone or in small groups, some to play and others just to cool their heels. I must have spent several hours just watching everyone enjoy this unique water feature on a warm spring afternoon. Bordeaux is definitely on my list of places to see again and next time the surrounding countryside will be a top priority.
