Bordeaux

The ride from the port of La Rochelle to Bordeaux, the largest city of the region of Aquitan, takes 2-1/2 hours. On the way, our guide explained the tricky process of wine-growing. Cultivating such grapes as cabernet sauvignon and merlot can take three years. We saw many vineyards, and the harvest this year will be difficult to determine this year, due to a rain shortage. When we reached the city of Bordeaux, we were surprised to see all of the elegant 18th century buildings designed by Gabriel, one of the architects of Versailles. It's easy to walk around the old city, and we enjoyed a delicious French lunch complete with a glass of St. Emilion, then we visited the Musee des Beaux Arts, with good examples of works by Rubens, Van Goyen, Delacroix, and others. But the highlight was the splendid Gothic cathedral of St. Andre, with its interior featuring groined vaulted ceilings. After our long bus ride back to the ship we headed to a "couples dine-around" dinner. We met couples from Canada, Australia, Hawaii, and closer to home, Washington, DC. The lives of the men we talked to were various and often amazing. Next, it's onto Spain. - Dan