June 8, 2014
After the cocktails lunch at the hotel, we have two hours free time before the buses come back to bring us to Chateau Smith Havt Lafitte for wine tasting and gala dinner.
My children are not yet tired, young people. We went out exploring the commercial area of Bordeaux.
Armed with a city map, we walked some 10 minutes, and with the aid of these two local young ladies who helped us find our way.
I walked a few meters behind them, and under an umbrella. The sun was hot and glary.
We stopped at a corner while one girl takes out money from the ATM
While the other girl showed Oyen the way
We reached the big gate, this is the way.
Corner of Rue des remparts and rue dijeaux
We passed by a small modern building, Cine cite, a movie house.
We reached an interesting pedestrian area. I think this is called the Place de la Victoire.
Narrow cobbled stone streets, with rows of small stores and cafes.
The stores are smaller in scale which makes the place more pedestrian friendly. Unlike in Paris where you have to cross wide avenues to hop from one store to another, the streets of Bordeaux allows a tourists to enjoy the stores without breaking a leg from walking far and wide.
Gelato Familia, no Grom here but theirs are equally good.
Paus’k cafe
Arch of Aquitaine
Except for a few gelato, juice, and cafes, all the boutiques and other stores close on Sunday, the day we arrived. Even during weekdays, they open at 10am-1pm. they take their afternoon break, then open at 2 pm. some stores open at 2:30 pm like Hermes. The have a fairly slow paced work schedule.
kala ko Hotel de ville is a five star hotel kasi it’s so big and occupies one huge block. Yun pala it’s their munisipyo.
800 year old Bordeaux Cathedral
I thought this is a bank, sabi ko na nga ba punerarya kasi merong Funebres, eh yan yung kinakanta at tugtog sa patay.
Rue Sainte Catherine
We reached an open square where the ancient Cathedrale de Saint Andre is.
Half of the exterior is under restoration/cleaning.
As soon as I entered the front door, talagang feel na feel kung luma na itong church, para bang sangkatutak ang moomoo dito.
It’s amazing how the ancient artisans made skyrocketing ceilings, arches, and intricate mouldings without the aid of modern tools. Eh ngayon nga we have all the tools pero tamad ng maggawa ng ganitong ka-intricate na simbahan.
Chit Juan and Angel Rosales, showing Oyen where we can take the tram back to the hotel. They didn’t eat much at the cocktails, nag-explore agad sila.
Ibang style ang luhuran nila. The big chairs are for sitting, the smallere ones in front are for kneeling.
Huge blue clock
Obvious ba mag boyfriend pa lang sila. Kung married hindi na yan magki-kiss. Magtutulakan na yan.
Kiss her too.
Lime stone absorbs dirt and pollution. It’s a natural stone that is porous.
It would take years and lots of money to clean and restore the exterior of this huge building. Ang hirap iskobahin nyan.
There are many small models of Ford cars here.
I was tired and thirsty. We stopped by a juice store where I sat down while Oyen and Nyke continued walking up to the end of the cobbled pedestrian street. Ma-energy pa sila, ako eh hapung-hapo na.
Bordeaux makes every effort to preserve their city and surroundings. They monitor the amount of pollution. There are many pedestrian streets to deter motor vehicles from invading their heritage. Their electric tram also helps people move around within the city conveniently without any need for a car.
The tram glides smoothly and quietly.
We found the train stop. The ticket machine is in the middle of the road.
We waited for the next tram under the heat of the sun, grabe talaga ang init. Pero once you’re in the shade, ang presko naman.
My son waiting for the train
Not yet here
Here comes the tram
(pologies, my fingers block the lens).
We took the tram back to the hotel. It was only a short trip, like 5 minutes, very convenient.
