Elegance – Bordeaux’s beautiful 18th century architecture and the restoration of its riverfront.

and millennials everywhere enjoying cafes and shopping – where do the euros come from?

Automobiles are VERY expensive so the French are much more likely to use public transportation or bikes when possible. You are expected to get out of THEIR way.

This is a city famous for its wine.  We’ve had wine w/ all lunches and dinners…normal!  Loved the tour and tasting at Chateau Laniote, a family vineyard for over 200 years.   Supports a family and estate very nicely with its 12 acres of vines.

As we were learning about all the wine-making steps, the charmingly amusing owner/winemaker explained that expensive barrels were closed by pounding in a cork.  He offered the mallet to Ed and Yona…and as you can see, she knew just what to do.

Saint-Emilion, a perfect hill town in the Bordeaux Valley, goes back to prehistoric times.  In the 8th century a monk who became St. Emilion fled persecution and settled into a hermitage that had been carved into the rock.  Apparently there he performed miracles.  Four centuries later, in his honor, a beautiful underground church was created, reminiscent of those in Cappadocia, Turkey.  Photos not allowed but we found one on the web.

Dissolving limestone is causing the pillars in the cave church to become unstable so heavy steel beams have been put in to hold things together until a solution (and money) can be found to fix them.

News you need to know from France…the next color to come your way for men and women.. MUSTARD – it’s everywhere here.

Europe is following our political situation very closely.

And gelato ice cream cones shaped like flowers…YUM, trust me on this.