Lost in Bordeaux

Oh dear Pam and I got very lost yesterday afternoon during our free time in Bordeaux and almost missed the bus!!!  We were 5 minutes late by the time we eventually found the meeting place, everyone had gone and we were left non-plussed.  We had been given specific instructions to ask a French person if we became lost.  We did this on four occassions and were given a bum steer each time!  Eventually , more by good luck that goood management we began  to 'find' our way to the meeting point.  We tried to call the guide, Julian, who told us we must do this, we should always have his phone number on us.  Three times we got his answering machine!!!!  Anyhow OUR common sense prevailed, we made our way to where the bus let us off and lo and behold there was the bus, full of people, with the guide standing and flapping on the street corner - supposedly looking for us.  We think that maybe he was going to pick up any two people that he could to make up the numbers!!!!
To cut a long story short, I had a very serious discussion with him, we have had very good service all day today and he has made sure that we have been in attendance at each meeting point.

Today we have been to the wine growing area around Bordeaux.  There are vines everywhere growing red merlot grapes. I tried some but gave up after I saw a bottle worth 110 000 Euros.  I didn't approach it for fear of breaking it.  The land is worth $5million per hectare there.  Much of it is owned now by insurance companies who invest there.  The chateaus there are very nice looking - but I am pleased that I am not doing the cleaning.

We also went for lumch at some swanky eatery which seemed to have spiral staircases to Heaven.  It rained while we were eating and one table had been left free. It soon became obvious why as the water poured down into a strategically placed pot plant.  Another three course meal of quiche and salad (garnish Pam called it), duck and and some other unidentifiable stuff and a chocolate mouse followed by strong coffee that you could stand your spoon up in without fear of it falling.

After lunch we went to visit St Emilion's cave where he lived for 17 years and an underground church that the Benadictine monks had hewn from the limestone. We also went in the catacombes where they had buried the dead ones.  If you were rich you could also be buried there.  There were no bones though, they had been removed to a museum. Tourists kept stealing them.   Hope my bones never make it to a museum!

 This is the church that Pam and I were gawking at wehn we the Gods intervened and lost us.

 This is where your next bottle of merlot is coming from - if you can afford it in about 10 years time.

Both stainless steel and oak casks are used

These casks have merlot already in them and they will be left there for a lonnnng time before bottling.  2011 vintage.

Pam and I in with the casks!

An old Fiat car that we saw in a car park.

 

Tonight we are washing etc for tomorrow we are off to Tours through the Loire River Valley where there are more vines etc.  Apparently we are going to visit an ABC (another bloody castle) on the way which has furniture and tapestries- maybe I should throw a few pieces that I like into the already bulging suitcase!  Ian. be sure to bring the trailer when coming to the airport!