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!
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 food looks delicious! The shopping street looks much more appealing than those we visited in Japan, which were so crowded it was difficult to walk.You had a busy and productive day!
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