At the Start of the holidays, which seems so long ago now(!) Mum and Dad came to visit me. They were meant to be going to Egypt for their wedding anniversary but with the disruption, they weren’t allowed to, so it was off to France instead!
On Saturday evening I took the train, tram and bus to Bordeaux airport to meet them before we all headed back into the city to find our hotel. Luckily for us, a German girl overhead us talking (her boyfriend in from Dublin so she recognized the accents) and started chatting to us, she told us where to get off, which was great as otherwise we would have added more than half an hour on our journey by going the whole way into the center and back out again.
SUNDAY
After a nice lie in and breakfast in the Hostel we headed into Bordeaux so I could show Mum and Dad around. Our hotel was only a short walk from the Cathédrale Saint-André, so we went there first. We climbed for what seemed like an age to get to the top of the bell tower, but thankfully it was worth it as the view was lovely!
From there we walked towards the Mirroir d’eau and stopped for a bit on the steps. I don’t know what is going on here at the moment, but it is HOT. Like better than any summer we have ever had kind of hot, I don’t understand it, nor were we prepared so we required a lot of breaks and beverages!
We had lunch in a nice square, and had massive Pizza’s – we couldn’t even finish two between us! We then walked to Place de Quinconces, as dad wanted to go on the Tour bus but we were too late, so instead we took a trip on the Ferris wheel. I think this has better views than the tower but unfortunately isn’t here all year round. We then walked the length of the promenade and ate some ice cream before heading back to catch the next tour bus!
MONDAY
On Monday we caught the train back to Perigueux, and walked to my house. While I was away my street managed to get even crazier – when we arrived it was all tapped of by Police and surrounded by Ambulances. We made our way through all that and enjoyed some wheaten bread, rhubarb jam and cheese (LOVE home comforts) before walking to Mum and Dad’s hotel. I might have walked us there the long way, but we did get there eventually! After dropping of their things and a nice drink at the bar we had a nice walk around Perigueux. When being shown Perigueux it always seems larger than it actually is, as locals (Karine when she showed us), or people who live here (i.e. me) manage to walk around in such a way where we never return to the same point. Yet, once let loose in Perigueux alone, it is so much more obvious how small it is and how every street leads back to the cathedral, Monoprix or the tree car park. But, hey, that’s the beauty of a small town.
TUESDAY
Ever since I went to Brantome, dad has been inching to go. This was encouraged by neighbours and friends who had all travelled the south of France and been there. The difference is, is that they did it by car, whereas we would have to go on the bus. And busses to a really small village in the middle of the Dordogne just aren’t that frequent, but anyways dad came armed with timetables that would get us there at 12.30 and leave at 6pm. There are not enough things to do in Perigueux to fill that time, never mind Brantome!! But we went to the tourist office anyways to see if they could give us any other bus options.
To dad’s delight they did, and we caught the bus to Brantome and spent the afternoon there. We walked through the streets and shops, had cakes and a good cup of tea. We attempted to get the bat tour but it was cancelled, so we ate some more!
That evening we ate pizza and drank wine (well Mum and Dad did) in Perigueux, and met the most french bar tender I have seen in my life – Complete with beret, mustache, and a cream suit.
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday morning I met Mum and Dad at the market to buy some yummy foods for a Breakfast at my house. We had cheeses, jams, breads, fruits and some lovely pastries before we walked to the train station to say our goodbyes!
It was lovely to have them here, and to be able to show them around where I live and work, makes all the pictures a little bit more real!! Sorry that this has been such a long post but it is as much for me to remember it all as for you to hear about it!
C'EST LA VIE 