Bordeaux is seemingly synonymous with wine, however I discovered a metropolis with a lot to supply past le vin.
The primary port cease on our Anthem of the Seas 7-night cruise brings us to the town of La Rochelle, which is a pair hours drive from Bordeaux.
One of many conundrums of this explicit itinerary is to accept the small metropolis expertise or take the time to see a serious draw.
Because it’s my first time in France and I am undecided the following time I will have the ability to go to right here, it made sense to me to enroll in the journey to Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is a bit more than a 2 hour bus journey from the place cruise ships dock in La Rochelle. When you may have an excessive distance like that, reserving a shore tour via the cruise line is the one logical choice to keep away from being left behind due to a journey delay.
Learn extra: Why reserving my cruise shore excursions in Europe with the cruise line was the very best determination
Our tour started at 8am and met on the Royal Theater. Minutes after Anthem was cleared by the native authorities, our tour was the primary to be referred to as to go.
I signed up for the “Bordeaux On Your Personal” tour, which offers bus transportation backwards and forwards and that is it.
The bus is your typical coach bus with loads of air con and a toilet within the again. I preferred there have been USB plugs at every set of seats, though the legroom was very minimal.
We had been dropped off on the Allées de Tourny proper in the course of Bordeaux. We had been advised we might have just a little greater than 3 hours to discover on our personal, and to fulfill again at a delegated time. C’est ca et au reviour!
I particularly booked this tour as a result of I wish to discover the town alone, as I see match.
Bordeaux is well-known for its wine tradition, however wine wasn’t my fundamental draw. I like wine, however I am not a “wine particular person”. Nevertheless, I warmed as much as the wine scene within the metropolis fairly shortly.
Wine or not, the very first thing I needed was a very good French bakery and cafe. It was nonetheless morning, and I had this overwhelming want to strive it.
Among the finest issues about Europe is how a lot there’s to see. As quickly as I left the bus, I ran proper into Basilique Saint-Michel, which is a Gothic church within the middle of the town.
On the bus journey over I researched some locations to go, and located a espresso store and boulangerie throughout the road from one another that had been extremely really useful.
The Sip Espresso Bar was my first cease, and I had a cup of iced espresso that was served in a beaker. Cute concept, and the espresso was so significantly better than what I might get at residence.
I then walked throughout the road to Boulangerie Jocteur, and I used to be met with an awesome decisions of breads, pastries, croissants, and extra.
It was a type of locations I want I might deliver residence a field of goodies, however I additionally didn’t wish to refill instantly and wreck my urge for food for the remainder of the day.
I went with a croissant and baguette. Fundamental, positive, however I felt I needed to begin with the hits, and the meals didn’t disappoint. It most likely ruined croissants for the remainder of my life again residence.
With my stomach full, I needed to do some exploring. The Previous City space of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
Maybe essentially the most iconic landmark is Porte Cailhau, which was a gate constructed to guard the town in 1496. I solely walked by the port, however guests can even climb to the highest of the 35-meter tower for unobstructed views of the town.
I then caught sight of the Garonne river, which has a stupendous walkway alongside the left financial institution. It is the sort of waterfront stroll the place you not solely get an important view, however you possibly can see so many sights alongside the best way.
It helped the temperature outdoors was so comfy, with highs within the higher 80s and no humidity. As somebody that lives in Florida, it is all the time so refreshing when you possibly can spend time open air in the summertime and never sweat profusely to the purpose of hating it.
The “Miroir d’Eau” (water mirror) was a enjoyable cease that is throughout from the Place de la Bourse monument. It alternates a mirror impact and synthetic misting in a rare means.
By now my thoughts was telling me my readers would hate on me if I went to Bordeaux and did not have any wine, so I made a decision to offer it a strive.
I wandered the streets of Bordeaux for a bit to discover a wine bar. There are many bistros and cafes, however I did not wish to go to a restaurant that had a restricted choice.
I ultimately ran throughout Coumé Vaï, which serves wine by the bottle and glass, together with cheese and charcuterie choices.
I am not a wine knowledgeable in any respect, so I requested the girl working behind the counter to advocate a few wines to strive that had been from the area.
She picked out two, and I give it a strive.
I actually preferred the flavour of each, with the primary being fairly fruity and the second extraordinarily dry.
If I had extra time in Bordeaux, I might see myself having fun with a few glasses within the night to wind down the day.
For lunch, I wasn’t positive the place to eat as a result of there have been so many scrumptious eating places. You could possibly not go down a avenue with out operating into one or two eating places that seemed actually good. I needed I might had time to strive extra locations.
This may increasingly sound loopy, however I went with an Italian restaurant for lunch. Being in Europe, the meals is nice past the standard meals of the host nation, and in my analysis, I discovered just a few intriguing Italian eating places. As a pizza snob at residence, I used to be drawn instantly to offer it a strive.
I ended up at Le Murano, which has a big out of doors terrace. Consuming outdoors at a small desk feels so French, even when it is Italian meals.
I ordered a margarita pizza, and it was precisely what I needed. Nice meals I am unable to get at residence, with unequalled surroundings.
I’d have cherished to have extra time to buy groceries and enterprise additional south. There are lots of locally-owned boutiques that promote nearly all the pieces.
I used to be principally within the Saint-Michel “quartier” of Bordeaux, and it is a very cosmopolitan neighborhood together with its wealthy historical past.
I particularly loved exploring Bordeaux and easily strolling to see what’s across the subsequent nook. The meals scene, charming historical past, and unbiased retailers actually made Bordeaux stand out past the wine it is well-known for.
Definitely wine lovers will find it irresistible, however non-drinkers can discover tons to see too.
My go to gave me a brand new style for all there’s to find within the well-known wine area. I’d love to return again and spend extra time right here. That is, in spite of everything, probably the greatest causes to cruise as a result of it offers you a style of what the world has to supply, and you may all the time come again for extra.