Bordeaux (Garonne River cruise)

When looking for lodging we had a few requirements: 3 bedrooms with large beds, 3 bathrooms, and in-house laundry facilities.  We were able to find accommodations in all three of our destination cities that met these criteria (except for Paris which only has 2 toilets - but the apartment is so fabulous that we couldn't pass it up!). Remember that John and Babette arrived in France 4 days before we did so they are getting a bit desperate in the clean clothes department!  This Bordeaux home has (almost) full size washer and dryer (not a combo washer/dryer machine like most French apartments).  As soon as we got here Babette attempted to do laundry but couldn't get the washer to start...lights turn on, clicks are heard but the  wash cycle never starts.  Now, my brother in law John is an amazingly talented contractor - handy at fixing most things...but even John couldn't get this washer to start.  After several calls and even a video call  to the property manager, we were told to go to a laundromat and we would be reimbursed for our trouble.  So all 6 of us loaded up our laundry.  I had noticed that the local laundromat just around the corner was closed for remodeling.  So we headed off on the D tram to a facility that I had found online where you could drop off your laundry for them to wash and fold for you.  It said 6 hr. service so it sounded perfect.  It took us about 15 minutes to get there with our bags of laundry.  We entered the laundry shop, the attendant told us she does not wash underwear or socks (kind of the most important part of the laundry if you ask me!), so as I stood there pulling my laundry out of our laundry bags and making a pile of undies and socks (with which to return home and wash by hand I guess), Lenore tripped on a very small step into the shop, as she fell she did a full pirouette, grabbed Gary's arm and landed somewhat gracefully on a nearby chair.  At this point the laundry woman told me our laundry would be ready to pick up in 5 days!  WHAAAAT?!?!?  We packed our laundry (including undies and socks) and headed back on the D tram, ready to get on with our day.

We decided to split up and have a little time alone as a couple.  Babette had a little quiet time at home with John, while Ron & Lenore and Gary & I took the tram to Rue St. Catherine which is the longest pedestrian shopping street in France.  Once on Rue St. Catherine, we split up...we went left and they went right, with the plan to meet outside McDonalds at an appointed time.  Ron and Lenore spent their time shopping and people watching, Gary and I choose to eat ice cream and people watch!  And let me tell you, the people watching on this street was amazing!  I think I heard Ron say the he had never seen so many beautiful people in one place (young, old, male, female)!  Gary always likes to pop into foreign grocery stores and check out their gluten-free options - it's so interesting to see the different products than we have at home!

Rue St. Catherine...I'm not a big shopper, but this area is a big shopping area - every type of store you might want to visit is here!  And the people watching was great! (and as much as we all love each other, I think it was nice for each couple to have a little time alone).

Gary making a bee-line to the ice cream store.  In case you haven't travelled with Gary, when he is on vacation he wants ice cream EVERY day!!

We met back up with Ron and Lenore at the appointed time.  There was a busker playing the violin in the middle of the street and Ron and Lenore took a little spin, which was the cutest thing ever! 

After their dance, we headed back to the river where we were planning to take a little boat tour on the Garonne  River.  As we were walking toward the boat, who snuck up behind us but John and Babette!  After their quiet time in the apartment they had gone out to lunch and enjoyed their time alone in Bordeaux.

We boarded the relatively small boat, choose seats on the open air upper deck, sat back and relaxed.  The weather was lovely, the guide was charming, and we had a great (and very relaxing time on the boat).  It was fun to hear a different guide (with different fun facts) talk about their beloved city of Bordeaux.  We were also served some of the local sweet treats, canneles.  I didn't like them the first time I had them, but on the boat they were quite tasty (not gummy like the first ones we had)...the guide explained that he likes to heat them 3 minutes in the oven before eating them...they become nice and custardy/creamy in the center!

The lovely little canneles, about 2" tall, carmelized and sticky on the outside, creamy inside!

Ron and Lenore sat next to a charming Swiss couple and were chatting it up!  Lenore truly makes friends wherever she goes!

Kathy and Babette chatting it up

This is the most unique bridge...those 2 narrow towers are like elevators and the entire center of the bridge slides up the tracks in the "elevator towers" so larger ships can pass up and down the river.  The bridge is lifted about 120 times a year (almost once every 3 days, right?!). I think they must do it at night because we have not seen it in the "up" position in the 5 days we have been here).

(my hair has decided to be curly (in parts) in France and it's confusing to me...I don't know what to do with it!)

After our boat ride on the Garonne River, we walked to dinner...stopping along the way for a cocktail.  I love the photo the waiter took of us when we asked him for a photo of us...

Don't you love this one!!??!  (the waiter was great...and the cocktails were pretty good to!)

We had the best dinner of our trip so far at this restaurant in Bordeaux.  We were in the mood for meat...and boy did we get it!

Best table for the world famous Hunt family...front and center!  We had a birds eye view of everything going on, and man, this restaurant was HOPPING, and had an EDM playlist that I actually enjoyed (how about that, Iren?!)

fillet mignon with petite Caesar salad (what is not pictured is the huge bowl of duck fat fries!!!)

veal chop and fried artichoke hearts (fried in duck fat, no less!)

FABULOUS beef cheeks in a Bordeaux wine sauce and the creamiest mashed potatoes in the world! We have seen beef cheeks on several menus in France...always delicious...(note to self: find out where I can purchase beef cheeks at home...and serve them often!)

Sea bass tartar appetizer was a bit too "fishy" for me, but the others loved it.

lovely burarata and tomato salad with homemade pesto

Carpaccio appetizer, cut thicker than usual, but so tender and flavorful!

We toddled home on our trusty "D" tram line and fell into bed happy and content after a day that started off a bit rough, but ended on a high!!

Stay tuned for the next 2 days...they are doozies!