As we get to the end of the alphabet, the letters are a little more challenging, but I’m up for it. After all, “O” is for Orseolo and “Q” is for Queen of Europe’s Rivers were creative ways to solve those letters. Nevertheless, the “X” trip was an actual “X” location. Xixerella, Andorra was a pleasant surprise, but its proximity to Bordeaux, France provided an enticing draw. It even has the bonus of ending with “X.”
France is well-known for its food and wine, two of the things that draw us into choosing a vacation destination. Bordeaux is a mere three hour drive from Xixerella, so we left Andorra mid-morning and arrived at our hotel in Bordeaux with plenty of time to get settled and relax with some wine on our terrace.
Adopting the French tradition of late dinners, we dressed for our eight pm reservation and made our way to La Tupina. It seems everyone we spoke to recommended it (along with Cite du Vin and a visit to La Terrasse Rouge in St. Emilion). Heeding their suggestions proved to be a spectacular choice. Entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a host in front of a huge open firepit with slabs of meat sizzling and wafting aromas into your nose. It worked on us! We knew this would be a long night, so we settled into our table and lingered over the menu, then the wine and a light appetizer before the star of the show was delivered.
For a first night in Bordeaux, La Tupina set the bar high. The Mondrian Bordeaux merely looked at the bar and cleared it with ease. Just back from dinner, we fell into the plush bed and enjoyed a serene, exceptionally restful night. The next morning, the breakfast “buffet” included cooked-to-order eggs and every imaginable breakfast food. We ate like kings.
After a sumptuous start to the day, we slid into the rental car and headed out to explore “the right bank” of the Garonne River on our way to Blaye. Our friend and wine consultant, Liza, had connected us with a winemaker she knows. We met Nicolas Carreau of Vignobles Carreau and he regaled us with the story of his (and his cousin’s) vineyard as we strolled through the vines, tasting the nearly-ready-for-harvesting merlot grapes.
There’s something a little unbelievable about a private tour of a Bordeaux vineyard with the co-owner. We laughed as he shared his boyhood wish to simply drive one of the tractors. He knew at an early age he and his cousin would take over the vineyard from their grandpere’. He uncorked three different wines for us to sample, sharing the stories behind their names.
I longed to linger, but Nicolas had to get back to work and we had more exploring to do, so we cheek-kissed and bid him adieu.
Signs for the Citadel du Blaye intrigued us, so we parked and went exploring. Stumbling on a little cafe, we realized it was time for lunch. We shared a duck breast with peach sauce and more Bordeaux wine. We strolled the grounds of the UNESCO Heritage site and caught glimpses of a coming festival as set-up was underway.
We considered crossing the river on the ferry to drive the “left bank” but decided to wander back the way we’d come. We spotted an Aldi and picked up a few things for the picnic on the terrace we knew would be the perfect ending to this stunning day.
Our second full day in Bordeaux arrived with warnings from nearly every local we encountered. “Beware, it will be very hot today, drink plenty of water and take it easy.” Living in the desert has its benefits as we knew how to handle the weather. We slowly wandered Bordeaux’s famous shopping street and picked up a couple of souvenirs in the morning, then made our way to Cite’ du Vin for lunch ahead of a scheduled wine tasting.
I knew before the trip that I should expect taste-bud-dazzling meals, but WOW! Lunch at Le 7 Restaurant Panoramique blew our minds! I’ll just share these images and let you imagine the flavors.
Bellies full, we toured the wine museum, learning even more and more about not just Bordeaux wines, but the entire world of wine. The museum is full of hands-on, adult-minded fun. We ended up in the gift shop where, unsurprisingly, we found a few more things to take home.
Sunday’s plan was to head to the village of St. Emilion, which is where Greg picks up the story …
We woke to an overcast sky and wanting an early start, we skipped breakfast and headed across the river out of Bordeaux, southeast toward the medieval town of St. Emilion. We found parking on the town’s outskirts near the church, where parishioners were just beginning to gather. We had expected to find a Sunday market, but none were to be found. Nevertheless, the steep cobblestone streets, mostly limited to foot traffic, led us through a maze of historic buildings now filled with wine shops and touristy souvenir stores. Feeling our hunger, we stopped for a coffee and a croissant at an outdoor cafe while the square began to fill with other tourists, many seemingly bussed-in from their river cruise ships. We poked our head into a few more shops before leaving for our lunch reservation, happily yielding our prime parking spot to another one of the many tourists now jockeying for parking. We’re glad we got there early!
Our lunch today was at the renowned La Terrasse Rouge. It had come recommended by Liza and several others; Judy had made a reservation through our hotel. That simple step netted us a table for two overlooking a 30-foot (ish) bed of red glass rocks, with the vineyards of Chateau la Dominique and the villages of Pomeral and Neac beyond — both marked by the spires of their respective churches.
This was the epitome of “Room With a View.” As we sipped glasses of the winery’s Grand Cru Bordeaux and sampled the delightful tastes of our “dejeuner,” we toasted our joy, saying simply, “This is us.”
Later that evening, I reflected on the day and the trip so far. I was feeling especially blessed. I wrote in my notebook while Judy napped quietly next to me on the terrace couch. The heat of the day had given way to a soft breeze as the sun set lower in the sky. I was thankful we spent the extra money to get the terrace room — it was so worth it to have a comfortable outdoor space to relax and unwind from another busy day as tourists.
But …
We weren’t typical tourists — that day or any day on this trip. This trip, I wrote, showcased the culmination of many lessons learned in our previous travels. We got the clothes mostly right. We focused our experiences on good food and wine. We enjoyed wonderful conversation and phenomenal time together, whether sitting on the lovely terrace, sipping wine overlooking miles and miles of vineyards, or relishing the unique tastes of a meal lovingly prepared. It reminded us that where, why, and the way you travel has to be reflective of YOU, not what someone else thinks is “the best.”
There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. We have two more letters to go, but that won’t stop our everlasting wanderlust. We’re looking forward to “Y” and “Z” and the new adventures that await us there, and we hope they’ll be equal to the high bar this trip has shown. We hope you, too, will experience travel the way you want to.
© The World A to Z, LLC 2025 — Unless otherwise indicated, no compensation was received for this blog.
The World A to Z 