Bordeaux, Center

I was at the Place de la Victoire located in Bordeaux, France and I needed to see some more sights.  I opened my map and started looking for something that would catch my eye.  Aw, I have it Chateau Pique Caillou a park and by the looks a really big one.  As I look at this big park on my map I notice that it is really far away.  I do not think I can walk that far and still see the center of town.  So the big park is out.  What else can I find on the map?  I see a cathedral called Cathe’dral Saint-Andre’, I have a friend named Andre’, for that reason I make the decision to head for this cathedral which is located in the center of town.  On the map I also saw a Hotel right next to it.  Some shopping centers were located relatively close also so I head for that location.  The map quickly shows me that I need to go north up the road called Cours Pasteur.

I find the road and start walking saying good by the the Victory Place.  I wonder what was the victory that occurred at the Place de la Victoire as I walked up the road.  My mind is brought out of my thoughts when I see the Cock and Bull.  Strange but this club/bar looking place has a title that is in English.  I am not a club kind of person but realize that since I have never heard of this club in the USA that it must be from England.

The Cathedral comes into view a couple of blocks after the club.  I can see the magnificent structure above the row of trees, Cathedral Saint-Andre’.  I take my time enjoying the grandeur of this old structure that has been around for along time.  If buildings could talk, would they tell of important people who had come to visit them or get into deep thought on the culture of man and how it has changed around them.  More than likely they would talk about the rain and how it slowly deteriorates their exterior surface.  I get to the door and I am hoping to go inside, I have been in a couple of Cathedrals in Brazil.  The Cathedrals I have already visited are dark and damp smelling with an oppressive feeling that smothers your skin.  I was therefore not to disappointed to find out that the cathedral was closed for maintenance.  Time to find the shopping I say to myself.

The shopping center on the map that is closest is called Centre Commercial Saint-Christoly and I pass the Hotel De Ville on the

Cathedrale Saint Andre in Bordeaux, front door

way.  Perfect I say to myself I can get a room set up on the way.  As I get to the eastern side of the square I see the Hotel De Ville but I cannot get a room.  I did not know that Hotel actually means Hall and I also did not know that Ville means City.  Can you believe it I found the City Hall and that is not exactly what I was looking for.  Now I had to find another place to stay.  I have time left in the day so I move on to the shopping.  It is only a couple of blocks from the Cathedral.  So it does not take long and I am standing in front of what looks like an apartment complex that stands several stories above me.  This is like no shopping center I have ever seen.  I am not getting to the places I want by just looking at my map.  I guess it would have helped to know French.  I am also thinking at this point that there is something to be said for having a guide.  Back to my map I am staring at it when a beautiful looking young woman stops and asks me if I need help finding something.  I look up but do not say anything because she just asked me in French and my brain is trying to translate I am also taken back by this beautiful French maid standing before me.  With dark eyes that match he dark hair her summer dress showed enough leg to make my blood pressure rise.  She notices my lack of understanding and probably the redness in my cheeks, and points at the map and smiles.  I smile and nod my head and point at the location marked Centre Commercial Meriadeck, because I do not want to walk all the way over to it if it is not a shopping center.  She takes a look at the map and says with an accent “mall” and then begins to point saying Rue Monbazon and continuar Rue Claude Bonnier.  I do not really even understand the Road names because she says them so fast.  She sees the look in my face of blank confusion and points out the route on my map.  I smile and offer my thanks and she pulls out a small piece of note pad paper and writes something on it.  She hands it to me as she kisses my cheeks as if to help the redness go away and says good by.  I continue to thank her as she leaves and then my curiosity get the best of me and I have to see what is on the paper she left in by hand.  Her name is Amy and there on the paper is her phone number or at least I think that is what it is, the number was baout fifteen digits.  Not like an American number that is for sure.  I can still feel  the heat in my cheeks even after a couple of blocks walking.  Aggressive female, I think I like it when a woman goes after the things she wants, the Brazilian girls were exactly the same no hiding there feelings like the American girls do.  That being said when the Brazilians got angry they showed that also and it seemed like hiding the dishes was a good idea so they would not get broken over your head.  After thinking about the fiery tempers of the aggressive Brazilians I decide not to use the phone number I just received.  I do not have enough time for much romance on this trip.  My goal it to get to Lisbon, Portugal before the summer is up.

The Shopping mall Centre Commercial Me’riadeck comes into view as I pass the Past Connemara Irish Pub and start down the Rue Claude Bonnier.  I get to one of the many entrances to this mall and I go inside.  I am looking for some duct tape.  Why would I be wanting duct tape you may ask.  Well I found out many years ago that when you have many miles to go and the blisters are really starting to hurt you can place duct tape on them and it prevents more damage and will get you through the rest of your walking.  I walk for about two hours through the mall looking at store after store of mostly clothes.  The Mall is not much different than one of its counter parts in the states.  Lots of teens walking around with friends trying to find themselves in a sea of marketing provoked spending.  I do not find any Duct tape and I make no purchases, I do not need any more clothes to pack around.  I am thinking that my blisters are going to hurt for some time as I exit the entrance I came in earlier.  I notice once I am out side that it is getting dark and I better find a place to stay for the night.

I look to my map again and see St-Bruno-Hotel De Region is just up the road.  Once I get there through I find that it is a bus station.  Ok this map thing is getting to be a pain in the foot.  I head back the way I came passing in front of the Mall.  I end up walking east on Rue Boulan and the darkness is really setting in.  A couple of blocks and I come to Restaurant Du Muse’e des Arts Decoratifs.  Food sounds great to me then so I go in for a bite.  The food is very French and very good.  I am stuffed and needing to find a place to lay my head.  I ask the consieur and he tells me of the Une Chambre en Ville which should translate to “a chamber or room in the city” if my French is getting any better.  It is close and I soon have a room for the night.  After a long shower and some blister tending I am sound sleep even with the constant sounds of the City outside.

The morning comes all to quickly and with my boots snug around my blisters I am off to see the Rouge Prestige, Boutique Ferrari, Porche Design.  The bell boy at the Hotel told me about it in his broken English.  He said he learned English by watching TV and it kind of reminded me of the way bumble bee talked on the movie Transformers.  The Ferrari Boutique was not far and really awesome to see some cool cars.  Problem was it made me wish I had one for I still had to walk to the train station.

I followed about the same route to the train station as I had left it.  Once inside I purchased a ticket for Toulouse.  See my post next week for Toulouse.

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