23 July Lourdes to Bordeaux
03.08.2010
Left our hotel early this morning for a long 5hr coach transfer to St Emillion, en route to Bordeaux. Weather still overcast but gradually improved to a sunny clear day at St Emillion; which is a beautiful world-heritage (UNESCO) protected town with grand old buildings, cobbled streets etc. St Emillion is the centre of the Bordeaux wine growing region and therefore lots (and lots) of boutique wine shops, wine cellars and cafes etc. Visited an underground cave wine-cellar; noting that the most expensive bottle of wine I saw was a 1947 Rothschild's priced at 28000.00 Euro!!!!!!!! and yes they had quite a few cases in stock...
From St Emillion we mounted our trusted steeds once again and rode the beautiful 55km through all the vineyards en route to Bordeaux - very spectacular passing a few grand old chateaus; noticed the real estate is prohibitively expensive near St Emillion, with vined land in the region of 10,000,000 Euro per acre (no wonder they charge so much for the wines).
Arrived at Bordeau which is an 'industrial' but still very historic city; arriving on the opposite side of the river so cycled across the amazing Bordeaux bridge - the Tdf stage has just finished in the city centre, so we rode through the Tdf course, which already was being dismantled by the massive Tdf rigging crews - rode past various TV crews giving rider interviews, so quite likely our group seen on international TV somewhere.
Todays eveing meal is not part of our tour package; so our tour 'bachelors' headed out into the town for a meal out - found this amazing restaurant which has ONE mains only on the menu - sliced pan-seared duck breast with French fries and salad - it was absolutely gorgeous and quite unlike anything I'd ever tasted before. It turns out the chef spoke good English and until recently was a racing cyclist - so we chatted lots; he explained the concept behind the 'one menu' restaurant which he said works well, and sounded good to us - and all washed down with a very nice bottle of Bordeaux; there you go Miles - as you said I can't go to France and not have at least one glass of wine!!
