Flying North to travel South.

[OZDUCK]

Next we moved onto Bordeaux. Our final stop except for one night at a CDG Hotel

Again we were on a pretty uninspiring INTERCITÉS train

Its arrival in Toulouse



Dated interior - First Class





It is certainly not an 'express' train. Which is probably for the best as we passed over several level crossings.





The first part of the trip was pretty rainy but there were some nice views







We spent a fair bit of time passing alongside the Garonne Canal



The weather got better as we approached Bordeaux



Bordeaux Saint Jean-Station



Nice Historic wall map/mural in the station

 

[OZDUCK]

I had spent a lot of time working out how to get to our accommodation. It involved catching a tram right outside the station and then transferring to another tram.

The tram stop - funny they don't look like trams!

It turned out that Bordeaux had decided to shut down half its tram system over the summer in order to build two new lines. There was minimal, to no, signage explaining what was going on. Eventually we caught an, overcrowded, replacement bus further up the road to link up with the next tram.



We eventually got to our apartment at Residhome Bordeaux. This was an excellent spot to stay. A short tram ride or a scenic 25 minute stroll along the riverfront to the centre of town. The Cité du Vin was just across the road and the WW2 Submarine pens another short walk away. They are very well equipped except for a washing machine but there is a paid laundry in the basement. When we went to buy some tokens the receptionist gave us some for free. A small supermarket is right next door







The view from near the entrance - the Pont Jacques Chaban Dennis lift bridge



Cité du Vin - a wine museum that we would later visit. About 200 metres from us.



About 300 metres from us was Les Halles De Bacalan. A incredibly trendy food hall - not at all a traditional French market - with lots of delicious looking food. We had a snack there on the first afternoon and intended to go back. However, the first time we tried to I had the opening hours wrong. We then planned a visit for our last night but my wife took a bait so we missed out.

Les Halles de Bacalan | Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions

Since 2015, the Basque company Biltoki (the place that brings people together) has been rehabilitating and modernising the concept of the halles of yesteryear. In 2017, it set up the Halles de Bacalan in Bordeaux, right next to the Cité du Vin. A place to live and events. Covering more than...

www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk

A little snack plate

 

[ellen10]

We loved our stay in Bordeaux last year. And the trams were very good and cheap.

 

[OZDUCK]

We loved our stay in Bordeaux last year. And the trams were very good and cheap.

We also loved our stay. And the trams were good and cheap - those that were running. Basically anything from Gare St Jean along the river to the interchange at Quinconces was dug up. Lines A, C and D were affected.

The works will result in a major improvement for the tram system but it was bad timing for us.

The tram stops this summer in Bordeaux, our solutions for you - Guide Bordeaux Gironde

Major works on the Pont de Pierre and arrival of new lines: everything that changes for your travel from June 2 to August 31 This summer, prepare to adjust your journeys in Bordeaux! From Monday, ...

www.guide-bordeaux-gironde.com