Week-end in Bordeaux

I spent this last weekend in Bordeaux, visiting the family of a friend who lives in Arkansas.  The train from Mende left Wednesday at 3pm and I arrived in Bordeaux a little after midnight. Clothilde and Luc picked me up and we drove to their house, which is actually about 20 minutes outside of Bordeaux. They chose that location because it’s only 20 minutes to the city and 30 minutes to the real countryside. Their house is beautiful and rustic. They have a nice wood stove, which reminds me of my parents’ house in Arkansas.

When I awoke the following morning, Luc and Guilleume (Clothilde and Luc’s 14 year old son) had already left for work/school. Clothilde didn’t have to be in until 11am, so we went into the city together, and she told me to meet her back at her office around 4 or 5 pm. That gave me about 5 hours to explore the city. I was in luck – Bordeaux already has a Christmas market set up! I perused the market, sipping on a cup of delicious vin chaud. Next I explored the rue St. Catherine, which Clothilde told me is the longest pedestrian shopping street in France. I refrained from buying anything – my bags back to the States are already pretty full! But I sure did enjoy window-shopping. 

Christmas market

After I met Clothilde back at her office, we picked up Guilleume from school and then headed to the countryside near their house. We went down a long scenic winding road and arrived at a vineyard, where we bought snails from a woman who prepares them – a necessary process before cooking which takes several days. At home, Guilleume and I got to help Clothilde prepare a sauce and cook them! They weren’t my favorite food, but I felt authentically French! Clothilde asked me what they reminded me of, and I think they have close to the same texture and flavor as calamari.

Clothilde with the snails!

Me, cutting marinated red peppers for the sauce!

Guilleume - supposed to be stirring the sauce - playing with a snail (on his finger)!

The next day Clothilde took off work, and we went into the city to do her Christmas shopping. It’s nice how the French have individual shops for everything –  we made purchases at the small, independent toy store and the book shop – where I could have spent hours looking at the French cookbooks! That evening we drove by a huge Chateau vineyard. Of course, this is really the wrong time of year to be visiting vineyards, but it’s still interesting. 

The Chateau

Vineyard where we bought the escargots

Drink wine and live joyfully!

Saturday was a beautiful, clear day, so Luc, Clothilde, and I headed to the ocean for a picnic of fresh oysters, white wine, and foie gras on French baguettes. (Guilleume had a friend’s rugby game to go to.) After our picnic, we headed to the dunes. I thought we would never reach the top! 

Oysters at the Ocean!

Luc and me trudging up the dunes!

Clothilde found this lying on the beach!

That evening, we went to a neighbor’s house for a dinner party. There were 5-6 couples present, each with approximately 2 children…it was a large dinner party! I thought they had a really good idea – each couple brought about two appetizers and a bottle of wine or champagne, and we ate and ate and drank and ate! The hosts started with three bottles of wine covered in foil, and had a contest to see if anyone in the party could guess the region the wine came from…they didn’t do very well! But everyone had so much fun guessing! 

The adults, holding up their raw crabs for me to take a picture! I tried one - didn't have a second!

I had a wonderful time in Bordeaux. I think it’s probably my second favorite French city (after Annecy). However, my train ride home was NOT pleasant. On my first train (Bordeaux – Beziers), I sat across from a woman holding a sick toddler who alternatively threw up and cried. My second train (Beziers – Marvejols) was filled with middle and high school students heading back to boarding schools…extremely noisy with paperwads being thrown all over.  My third train (Marvejols – Mende) was a bit calmer, but arrived late. Although I don’t like driving, I will certainly appreciate not having to deal with issues like this when I’m back in Arkansas!

Today I returned to class! Less than two weeks until Christmas break – woo hoo!