bordeaux

Bordeaux is a large city with over a million inhabitants in southwest France; it is the cpital of the Aquitaine region and the center of the famous Bordeaux vinyards. The city is not worth a visit. The traffic is slow and congested. Be prepared to stop repeatedly for red lights, bicycles, and pedestrians. In a country of beautiful cathedrals and ancient buildings, Bordeaux finds itself left out.

Instead, plan to visit the historic chateau and vinyards that surround the city. Again, traffic is a nightmare until one leaves the city and excapes into the countryside.

last night in paris

The last dinner in Paris was at les Halles at the Pied au Cochon, the Pig's Feet. This restaurant celebrates the pig, every single bit and morsel of it, from the ear to the foot. The experience is interesting, to say the least. Imagine shopping at Pet's Smart for treats for your dog, you know, the knuckle bones and ears, then cooking them to perfection and serving this as a dish to French palates. It works. The taste is slightly meaty, more so fatty and salty. Be prepared for cartilage, grissle and fat, plenty of it.

Everything at the Pied au Cochen is done to perfection. The staff of waiters are professional. The plates are delivered steaming hot. The wate is replaced when needed. The check is delivered when requested.

Don't foget to try the French onion soup as an appetiser. It is thick hot and tasty, a meal in itself. The portions are all large by French standards.

While the desserts look good, we left to try the ice cream at the Ile St. Louis. This is real French ice cream and not Italian gelato. The taste is thick and creamy, a little goes a long way.

itineray - after Paris traveling west

After three days in Paris, Will and I will be rested and ready to explore the rest of France. We are heading west towards Spain and we will have to make a choice.

Choice one is to head north to the city Rouen, then along the Normandy coast to Brittany. On the border of Normandy and Brittany is Mont-St-Michel. This route adds a day to our itinerary as the coast of Brittany is a two hundred mile circuit.

Choice two is to go directly west and then south to Orleans, Tours, and the Loire Valley. This route eliminates Normandy and Brittany and connects up with either Nantes or Poitiers. Eventually, we will reach the region of Bordeaux.