07-20 SUN – Bordeaux – city with large squares

[7 vs. 17]

Last visit in Biarritz – Russian Ortodox church
Driving North through a violent weather
Arriving to Bordeaux 
Visiting WWII German submarine bins 
Large squares of Bordeaux – reminds of St. Petersburg   

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Overview

 
Checked out at 10:51 – Le Caritz,  Biarritz – €132 – the most expensive hotel on the trip. We loaded our stuff into the car and start driving through the center to find parking closer to next point of interest – Russian Orthodox Church.  And we found it on Rue Louison Bobet, tiny street parallel to the beach line.

Heavy rain was changing to sun and back many times. On the highway, we saw a warning – “Violent storms ahead- Use Prudence”.

On the way to  Bordeaux, we stopped at CASINO rest stop, and had the worst eating experience. It was something looking like a sausage, but it was made from animal internal organs. I cannot understand how they would sell something like this.

A lot of driving was through a empty space along the highway.  Yes,  there are still empty places in Europe, even in ancient France.

Proudly serving to our people since 1892	8 Avenue Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz	Drive through empty space: 200 km from Biarritz to Bordeaux

We arrived at our Bordeaux hotel (apartment) and fond parking on the street.

Our first point of interest was – Submarine bin from WWII. It was very interesting. Completely run down building on the waterfront is in private hands now.   And it is still used today as a storage facility from the backside (land). We explored the abandoned French submarine in a very poor shape.  There are indication of the year used or year brought over to the yard.

We returned to a touristy riverfront. Here they constructed a walking mall with many restaurants and shops and with a pleasant river view.  River Garonne is very wide here.

Rain started as promised around 19:20.

20:19 Rain and sun in Bordeaux in July	19:08 Bordeaux- A dramatic view on Pont Chaban-Delmas across river Garonne	21:00 Taking in slow at “La Petite Maison de Pierre”, 10 Place Saint-Pierre, 33000 Bordeaux

We were aiming for a Vietnamese place to Eat, but it turned out to be just a quick food place. We ended up in a normal restaurant (La Petite Maison de Pierre) in a cute little inner square with all four sides taken by cafés and bistros.  I ordered just a gazpacho, and Lira got a pasta dish.  Plus wine.  Rain is eventually stopped, and around 21:53 (€31.50) we finished dining and started walking again.

Already in the dark, we walked a portion of wide pedestrian Rue Sainte-Catherine street with bright lights on both sides. Village seemed semi-empty on this Sunday evening.

[page created 2015-11-11 TU]

Navigate through the List

1. 07-04 First Steps in Paris (Friday, July 4, 2014) (2014/07/04)
2. 07-05 Paris - View from a sharp angle (July 5-6, 2014) (2014/07/05)
3. 07-07 Paris - Père Lachaise and Saint Denis (July 7-8, 2014) (2014/07/07)
4. 07-09 From Paris to Beaugency [bo:zhensi:] (Wednesday, July 09, 2014) (2014/07/09)
5. 07-10 Beaugency to Uzerche (Thursday, July 10, 2014) (2014/07/10)
6. 07-11 Uzerche to Montignac and to Sarlat (Friday, July 11, 2014) (2014/07/11)
7. 07-12 Sarlat, Rocamadour, Figeac and Bouziès (Saturday, July 12, 2014) (2014/07/12)
8. 07-13 From Bouziès to Albi (Sunday, July 13 2014) (2014/07/13)
9. 07-14 From Albi to Toulouse and to Auch (Monday, July 14 2014) (2014/07/14)
10. 07-15 From Auch to Lupiac (birthplace of D'Artagnan) to Tabres (2014/07/15)
11. 07-16 From Tabres into Spain and Pyrenees (2014/07/16)
12. 07-17 Reaching for the highest point in Pyrenees (2014/07/17)
13. 07-18 Monastery in Yesa, Navarra (Spain) (2014/07/18)
14. 07-19 Back to France - Busy Biarritz (2014/07/19)
15. 07-20 SUN - Bordeaux - city with large squares (2014/07/20)