Happy Day After Bastille Day

Catching up after 3 days!

Wednesday, July 12:

Today was our last full day in La Rochelle.  With no real plans, we slept in.  When we finally did get going, our first outing was to the market just a block from the apartment.  On our first visit on Monday, the market was only partially open.  Yesterday it was in full swing and it is a fine market.  Fresh fish and crustaceans galore.  Cheeses and quiches.  Outside were the fruits and vegetables.  In Long Beach it’s nice having a twice a week market in the park just a block away but it’s nothing compared to this.  And, of course, we hit the boulangerie as well.  After breakfast we walked around town to do a bit of shopping to correct some packing errors (no matter how many times we do this there always seems to be something).  Then it was time for our afternoon stop at Cafe Leffe for beer and meat.  It was the first day of the annual Francofolies music festival in La Rochelle and the port area was packed with people and booths selling a variety of goods.

 After lingering at the cafe, as one does in France, we headed over to climb the last of the 3 towers.  From the top we could hear the music from one of the stages (seemed to be Euro Electronica, if that is a genre?) and we could watch people streaming into the main venue.

A view of the 3 towers of La Rochelle

 When it was time for dinner we headed back to the old port for one last dinner of mussels (for me) and fish (for Linda).

Our stay in La Rochelle was thoroughly enjoyable and we recommend it to anyone.

Thursday, July 13

Today we made the transition from La Rochelle to Bordeaux and the next phase of this adventure.  We took the train and as we got closer to Bordeaux the prevalence of vineyards was obvious.

We made our way to the boat, the AmaDolce.  After unpacking and settling in we went for a walk in the city.  We had been in Bordeaux on an Oceania cruise a few years back so the city looked very familiar.  We walked along the waterfront past the iconic fountain in front of the historic buildings.

Then we walked along the large pedestrian shopping street and back to the boat.

All this was followed by captain's reception drinks, dinner and a good night’s sleep on a comfortable bed (the bed in the La Rochelle apartment was not the best!).

Friday, July 14

Today is Bastille Day or, as the French call it, the 14th of July.  After spending the night in Bordeaux the ship left this morning for the short cruise to Cadillac (yes, the namesake for the car brand).  This morning’s excursion was a tour of Cadillac Chateau and town.  The chateau was built in the 1500’s, used as a women’s prison in the 1800’s, used as a remand center for girls in the 1900’s and is now a national monument.  The chateau was interesting but maybe not as interesting as the art exhibition they had on display.  

The afternoon excursion was to a winery for Sauterne tasting and then to Chateau Roquetaillade.  The winery was very nice, the tour interesting and the Sauterne was quite good.  The chateau was initially built in the 1300’s (by one of the “nephews” of Pope Clement V) and has been in the same family for 700 years.  In fact, we found out after the tour that the woman who led us on the tour of the chateau is the current owner.  Apparently she doesn’t want the tourists to know that because it would cut down on tips.  Hey, it takes a lot of money to maintain a 700 year old castle.  The chateau was renovated in the 1800’s.  It was a fascinating tour.
The ship returned to Bordeaux for the evening and we walked into town to watch the 14th of July fireworks. The waterfront was packed with people and the fireworks display was a good one.