BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Bordeaux is sooooo beautiful and elegant and friendly. The boulevards are grand and the streets are lined with gracious buildings. The public gardens are stunning. There is not a speck of litter on the ground. Tall chestnut trees are covered with pink blossoms that float down on our feet. AND we are docked right in the center of this city. More tomorrow when we will explore. Today we had a delicious lunch at a bistro on the river. Bill ordered salmon; I had French pizza - the French may have gotten the idea of pizza from "next door" but they have certainly enhanced it nicely! Then we were off to Sauternes and a vineyard there. The vines are beginning to sprout; the barrels were beautiful - but the vineyard had been bought by the owner of Lalique crystal and gussied it up. The little shop selling winesmells of Lalique candles; the aging room has a crystal barrel (Lalique, of course) that is front and center and may NOT be touched. Worst was the chapel. That would be the room in the last photo with bottles lined up on the altar. "Is this used as a chapel?" I asked. "For religious services??" Answer: it is a consecrated space used as a wedding venue. I hope they take the bottles off the altar during the ceremonies.