Place Jean-Jaurès

TIL (today I learned) bord d’eau (or Anglicized to Bordeaux) means Waterfront. This beautiful city is on the river Garrone which has direct access to the North Atlantic, making it a really good shipping hub.

The day started very foggy and chilly. Went to the local Park+Ride, caught the tram and headed downtown anyway. Once there we took our new favorite Petit Train tour, 45 minutes of seeing the most popular tourist spots so we could better plan our walkabout. Past the St Michel and St Andre churches with their detached bell towers. Detached because the city is built on a filled in marsh (sounds like most of Florida) and the weight of the tower would have damaged the rest of the church! Those towers make for spectacular views and ornate architecture.

In the 12th century, Bordeaux switched between French and English rule following the marriage of Eléonore, Duchess of Aquitaine and the last of the House of Poitiers, to Henry II Plantagenêt, Count of Anjou and the grandson of Henry I of England, who succeeded to the English crown months after their wedding. Locals loved the free trade with England as they were able to trade their wine for wheat and cloth, greatly improving their lots in life.

In 1653, Bordeaux was annexed back into France where it remains to today.Read more