Bordeaux City, Table for One
Four days in Bordeaux city after leaving the châteaux and vintage behind. It has been amazing, it has been incredible, and it has taught me a thing or two about travelling on my own.
First up, Cité du Vin, and this is where I did most of my learning in Bordeaux City. I got there five minutes before a workshop on wine tasting started, great timing I must say. The workshop was really helpful for me because it reinforced my education in wine and gave me confidence in my knowledge. Then walking through the museum was incredible, there’s touch, there’s smell, there’s people talking about wine. France gets most of it, then the wider world, Greece, Spain, Australia, the States, and New Zealand got one little mention. Two hours is enough. I got bored after that, but I’m in the wine world, so maybe other people wouldn’t.
Stayed in Chartrons, just out of the city. It’s a 30 minute walk into the centre where all the shopping is, so for a group I’d probably look at staying closer in, but for me it was perfect. Lots of swanky little bars around, and lots of running. I covered 14 k’s across three bridges, and that’s when the city clicked for me. Running through a city is a beautiful way to see the streets, you just go further.
Going Solo
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Going Solo 〰️
Now the thing I didn’t expect. Being a female travelling solo in the city I noticed you don’t get the same treatment. You don’t get put in the premium spots, you get put at a side table, in the corner or inside, and it’s really noticeable. At Sasha, the wine bar at the top, it wasn’t even busy but it took me so long to get up just to have a wee glass of wine, and then to convince them I was okay to sit there on my own. One of the rudest places I’ve been to. It happened again at the InterContinental, and on the Monday night there was a restaurant I really wanted to go to and they gave me no attention not even the menus, so I left.
The InterContinental rooftop was recommended as the place for one drink with a view, so up I went and ordered a gin and tonic. $41 NZ for a gin and tonic at the top of a rooftop in the heart of Bordeaux. Sorry, no thanks, won’t be doing that again. Would I go back for the views? Yes, but not to have a drink.
I got told the people living in Bordeaux city are just beautiful people, they look good and dress well. That was correct, but one thing I noticed was the girls don’t eat, they just move their food around the plate, and everyone had a vape.
Rue Notre-Dame was my favourite, beautiful boutiques, nothing big, nothing commercial, just authentic places to go.
A tip if you want good food and good wine, look for quality glassware on the table, not just those stumpy little glasses. This one goes wherever I am.