Images of France

Photographic highlights of my visit to the Charante region of France in August 2001

Photography by John Ball except where otherwise indicated.

Bordeaux - 1

Tuesday, 14th August 2001

The city and port of Bordeaux is situated on the west bank of the river Garonne, about 60 miles from the sea. The economy of Bordeaux is centred around the trade of wines and liqueurs, the aeronautical industry and a range of other activities related to the electrical, electronics, automotive, chemical and biotechnological industries. The population of the city is 213,000 (700,000 including the metropolitan area of Bordeaux). Vieux Bordeaux, the Old Town of Bordeaux, is considered to be one of France's largest 'preserved sites', hosting such buildings as the medieval Saint André Cathedral. During our visit we decided to explore Vieux Bordeaux on foot. The weather was hot and sunny, and became increasingly humid as the day progressed.

Above: We entered the old town from Place Gambetta through La Porte Dijeaux (left), one of the impressive old town gates, and headed eastwards along Rue Porte Dijeaux (right).

Above: We resisted the temptation to stop at this bar on the corner of Rue De Grassi (left) and eventually reached Rue Ste Catherine, one of the main shopping thoroughfares in Old Bordeaux. Here we explored the neoclassical Galerie Bordelaise shopping arcade (right).

Above: Heading south along Rue Ste Catherine we encountered a street musician (left) with his violin. We then turned into Rue des Trois-Conils (road of the three rabbits), where I spotted the intriguing entrance to apartment 28 (right) — a door to another world, perhaps?

Above: On the corner of Rue des Trois-Conils and the narrow Rue Dudon was the colourful Thang Long Vietnamese restaurant (left). Nearby was the sunlit Rue des Remparts (right) with its flower-bedecked balconies.

Above: Shoppers enjoy their lunch in the shade of parasols in Place St-Projet, off
Rue Ste Catherine.

Above left: A bronze sculpture lit by the dappled sunlight of a quiet square off Place Pey-Berland. It was now time for lunch, so we decided to try the nearby 103-year-old Café Français where we sat under the canopy (below) and enjoyed a superb fish dish and a carafe of wine.

Continues on Page 2