Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Bordeaux

23 September 2013

We've come to Bordeaux for a few days

Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean  -  The Bordeaux Train Station




The Airbnb we're staying in is a duplex hosted by Auérlien, a nice young gentleman who is being very helpful with his accommodations and touring suggestions.  Although the outside doesn't look inviting to the weary traveler, we've learned that what appears, is not always what you get.


Inside of the gates is Auérliens's parents' house.  Once we're through the gates, it looks more like a small castle to us.  We're staying in a duplex apartment adjacent to the main house - Although it's not a great vantage point, the photo below from our living room window.  The house was designed by the Architect who designed the Grand Theatre (shown below) and was built in the 1800s. 


These are pictures of the Grande Theatre, completed in April 1780. (The architect who designed our Airbnb host's house)
Looking inside the doors do the Grande Theatre 
One of the outside porches of the Grande Theatre
The stone in most of the buildings is limestone
The terrace outside of the Grand Theatre


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In the center of town is the Bordeaux Cathédrale Saint-André.  This Cathedral is an Unesco World Heritage Site and it's oldest section dates from 1096. There are several exceptional masonry carvings and most of what is there today was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. 


We're always amazed at the immensity of structures like this.  At over 900 years old, how could these columns, roof lines, ceilings and all of the detail have been possible.  















As in many cities throughout Europe, the public transportation system is wonderful.  Look at the sycamore lined tram avenue.

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In an attempt to get out of the hustle bustle of the tourist area, we started walking, looking for some of the back-street sights.  Sure enough, we came across a little store with an artist making her jewelry.  She had lots of wonderful things that she made - some very cool earrings we purchased for Chica.


The Jewelry artist, Héline  - Of course, an instant friend

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Hi everybody!  At lunch in Bordeaux

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We brought some cheese home for part of our dinner.  Looks pretty appetizing huh?

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25 September 2013
Today is our day for taking tours of a few Winerys / Chateaux


Chateau Lagrange


We were told that these are all called "berries" rather than grapes (though they are grapes)


The grapes you see here are for white wine.  These are all being harvested this week, just before the darker grapes that start in the coming days.  The timing of the harvest is a perfect time, to the day, for the peak of ripeness.  Rain is expected in the next couple of days so the push is on to get as much harvested as possible because the rain will push ripeness over the edge and they could loose their entire crop.


The first sort to be sure the berries are good is done when they are picked.  This is the second of three manual sorts to get all of the stems and bad berries out.



These vats are cooled to a perfect temperature for the fermentation process, usually at least a year.



These are the computer monitors for the temperatures in all of the stainless fermentation vats


After fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels.





Chateau Lilian Ladouys

This is our tour guide, Boris, just outside one of a Chateaux




We went to a privately owned Chateau in Margeau...
The woman who bought this property back in 1989 had a specific purpose to have her winery on the left bank of the Medoc Region of Bordeaux. The property had been only used as a residence between the end of World War II and when she purchased it in 1989. 

It took 3 years to produce the first grapes and another year to be able to have the wind processed to bottling.  Today she has about 47 acres of vineyards that has vines as old as 24 years.  



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26 September 2013
Today we head back to Paris - but... Not until later in the afternoon.  This gives us a chance to get to Le Musée du Vin et du Négoce de Bordeaux. (The Bordeaux Museum of Wine & Trade). 
This was a wonderful walk around a stone vaulted wine cave where we had the opportunity to learn the importance Bordeaux had to the history of wine.  

Heading downstairs to the wine cellars



On the left, an partially made oak barrel
A sampling of so e of the Bordeaux wines in the background 



Oak barrels from the 1600s


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Now that's one big bottle of wine!

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We had a great little unexpected lunch experience a couple days ago at a little restaurant in Bordeaux. 

Our initial encounter at this lovely little place was that when we entered, we were a little too weary to try to decipher the menu that had no English translation.  Once we started to leave, a fellow at a close by table said (in English) "Can I help you translate?"  From that point, we entered into a wonderful world of a culinary experience. 

Today...   On our return walk from the Wine Museum to pick up our bags, we happened cross That same restaurant. This time, with such a wonderful experience last time, we decided to try today's lunch of the day.  Again... Wonderful.  

We tried out our limited French with Karina, who spoke no English, and had a great time.  


Monday, September 23, 2013

Back in Paris for a few days

19 September 2013
Back in Paris for a few days

We've been walking a lot.  We generally head out sometime late morning and walk a new direction.  It's a great way to learn our way around and while we're doing it, we get to see some of the sights.  
Check these out...

The Arc de Triomphe de Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, besides the Eifel Tower.  The monument honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed in its inner and outer surfaces.  Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.  

The funny thing is...   We were walking toward the Arc de Triomphe on a rue (street) that comes into the circle around the monument from a side.  We were very surprised at how few people were out and about.  Much to our surprise, when we arrived at the monument and looked up the next Avenue, the Champs Élysées, the street and sidewalks there were as packed as Disney during season.  WoW!  


We found a great place to eat and do some people watching.  


On Sunday evening, the 22nd, we were invited to dinner with some wonderful folks.  These wonder friends of Marios & Steve are so generous to include us in their regular Sunday dinner and get-together.  
We all met at Jean Christophe & Dom's.  This is a view from their apartment...


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Some Modes of Transportation in Amsterdam

Modes of transportation

As we walked around Amsterdam, we saw quite a number of unique modes of transportation.  Here is a sampling ...



The bicycle with the covered cart



The bicycle with the bigger cart - uncovered. It looks like a gardner's mode of transportation.



Bigger cart - bigger cover...



Bicycle with a rear basket


Bicycle with a front basket


Colorful bicycle


A wooden bicycle


Bicycles everywhere


Bicycle overcrowding




We're not sure about this.  A bench or a wheelbarrow?
Maybe if someone sits on your bench and you want to get rid of them, you just wheel them away!



We don't recognize all the makes and models of many of these vehicles..but guessing is fun. 

Of course, we recognize a vintage Mini Cooper :)



Amica



Check out this vintage Citroën





Another Citroën






Coopers are everywhere. 






We've seen these in the states. 







Another Citroën
The model 
The interior



We have something like this in the States but this one sure looks odd...


With an open back...   Delivery vehicle?





Amsterdam has a great public transportation system.  All of the trams are electric.




One of many tour boats



One of many tour buses