March 31- April 1

We had been warned about traffic around Milwaukee, so we left early. The route was clear sailing straight to Chicago's O'Hare airport, and we got there about 3 hours before our flight. Checking our luggage took less than 20 minutes, so we had lots of idle time at O'Hare. The plane encountered frequent turbulence, so after a dinner of penne pasta with salmon and cream sauce followed by cheese and apple cake we settled in for the night.

When we got to Paris we had to go from terminal 2F to terminal 2D. Terminal 2D is the only terminal in the complex not serviced directly by a bus, but it is an easy walk, so once again we were early. To board this flight we had to take a bus to terminal 2B and then climb up into the Jetway by stairs. As we started boarding all sorts of sirens went off an we all had to stop. For 15 minutes the airport workers tried to get the Jetway connected to the plane, and failed! So we walked down the stairs and across the tarmac to an external stairway into the plane.

That was the only excitement on the trip. The weather in Bordeaux was beautiful (about 70°F and sunny). The airport bus took us almost to the hotel door. Once inside the hotel, we discovered that our room was on the top floor and had very low ceilings. We also discovered that there was a convention of African countries going on in Bordeaux and our hotel housed many of the delegates. We saw some of our breakfast companions on TV at night.

It was not a pleasant room, but we were very tired. Once we had the skylights open, the room cooled off. We were about to lie down and sleep for a few hours when a pep rally started up across the street in the Place Gambetta. Not much sleep for the weary.

Later that afternoon we walked around the Place Gambetta and saw some typical city sights. There was a group of men discussing some major problem. Even the dog in the flowers was listening, but the man across the street was obviously on the phone to his broker!

The flowers in the park were beautiful and it was a great evening for just sitting around.

After a brief rest, we spent the remainder of the afternoon getting acquainted with Bordeaux. You learn quickly that it is a city under construction. We had been forewarned that the ten-year project for repairing the city's infrastructurewas about half completed. The wind was constantly blowing dust into Jan's eyes...a real problem for anyone with contact lenses. We went searching for a Monoprix but soon discovered there wasn't one in central Bordeaux. We did find a Champion store in a small mall near our hotel. I managed to be my usual self and drop a bottle of deodorant that I was looking at. It was glass, and it shattered all over the floor!

We stopped at a salon de thé near the hotel where we each had a small quiche. Then off to bed!

April 2

The morning search for the information center lead us to the Monument aux Girondins. The wind blew the water from the fountain and soaked the photographer! Anything to get the picture. The rest of the monument still had scafolding surrounding parts of it, so I didn't try to take a photo of that side. More about the monument later.

After a complete tour of the garden, it was time for lunch. We found a crêperie nearby. It was like the places we used to eat at in Québec City. Excellent Britany crepes and cider. I had a ham and cheese crepe and Jan had a forestière (with mushrooms and other good stuff).

After lunch we searched for a cyber café in the area around the hotel. One source had two spots marked on a map. The first place listed was no longer in business. Before we went to the second location, we tried the FNAC store, since they were supposed to have one internet station. They no longer had a station either, but when we brought out our other map, the lady at FNAC said that both locations on that map were still active. We got our messages off and then went in search of the Museum of Decorative Arts.

Along the way we passed the Cathedral of St. André and decided to look in. We talked at length to a cathedral guide about the current world situation. As we left, he invited us to stay with him on our next trip to Bordeaux. St. André's was the cathedral where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Louis VII of France. The marrage was annulled when they failed to have children. Some time later Eleanor married King Henry II of England.

At the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Bordeaux we saw an exhibit of furniture and household goods designed by Martine Bedin. The work dates from the last part of the twentieth century and was done in the spirit of fun with bright colors and almost child like simplicity.

After walking all over Bordeaux, it was time for a café at Le Grand Café. This, according to the guide books, is the place to see all of Bordeaux walking by! You can see here that the street outside of the café can be crowed with motor cycles.

After coffee we walked to the Marché des Grands Hommes. You can see it from the Café (at the end of the street). It is a circular glass structure with lots of stores on the main floor. Butchers, fruit stores and the Champion Super Market on the lower lever. Outside of the market, an appartment that was being reconditioned was on fire and the fire department was on the scene. Just across from the buring appartment was the largest hardware store in the area. Anyone who knows Jan, knows where we spent the next half hour.

After walking down close to the river and finding most main streets blocked by construction, the Allées de Tourny gave us a taste of what Bordeaux has been and will be again when the construction is over. This broad, tree-lined boulevard has the charm of the 18th century and a merry-go-round at its end. There are great wine and chocolate shops on both sides of the road and life seems to move at a somewhat slower pace here.

Supper tonight was a bit lighter. A chicken salad with fresh asparagus. This is the season for asparagus and the area in France where most asparagus is grown. We enjoyed an excellent Côte du Rhone with the main course and topped everything off with tarte tatin with Crème Fraîche.

After dinner it was off to plan for April 3 and our trip to La Rochelle .