I Should Move to Bordeaux

I love the Ozarks but, there are a couple places I could see myself living. Bordeaux is definitely in the top three. It is such a beautiful, charming city with wonderful weather most times.

The first thing that I couldn't help but notice was that it very much like the French Quarter in New Orleans, except clean.  I lived 8 years in Nawlins, met my wife there and my son Matthew was born there. The second thing is the whole big city is like the French Quarter, not just one small section of town.  The craved stone heavy architecture, the fleur de lis, the color and ornamental iron dominate the whole town,

Cathedral Bordeaux

Cathedral Saint-Andre

The whole city is built like this.

Pont Jacques Chaques-Delmas lift bridge out ship sailed under to get into port.

Even the light poles at the railway station was very artistic.

Track shed of Bordeaux Station.

UFO - don't know what this was about but, it was also on the tourist maps.

Former slave at Bordeaux dock.

Cathedral Bordeaux

Bordeaux blue in railway station framework.

 Bordeaux Blue is the dominate color used everywhere. It is on the ornamental iron, doors, window shutters, which another feature like Nawlins. That distinctive blue in used in advertising, signs, banners, bottles and vases in store windows, sports clothing, you name it.

Bordeaux blue ironwork

The know food. The bread is always a different type and always good with both taste and texture.  People are walking around everywhere with big long baguettes to take home. The smell is mouth watering. They cook with pride and passion and plain food is not tolerated. I was always finding new types of fresh bread with different dishes.  In the states we take commercial dough and just bake a different shape. Muffulettas made locally are just round Wonder Bread.  In Nawlins the mufulletta bread is half the taste; a bread made just for that type sandwich.  Except here in France there are all kinds of breads for different dishes.

Wonderful lunch but the beer was Spanish.

They know wine.  They drink wine all the time and they know good and except nothing else. Someone told me on the side that only sell the bad wines to the Americans. Their beer, not so hot. So they drink really good Spanish and Italian beers.

They know art.  It is an everyday part of their life.  We see an occasional exhibit or show and there are some local artists but in Bordeaux in is absolutely everywhere, on the streets, their sign and advertisement, art shops everywhere, their windows, their napkins, their parks and train stations, everywhere all the time.

They know music.  There are more American Jazz and Blues artists playing over there than in the U.S. That plus their own modern music with much more diversity of style and genre that in the U.S. Their inspiration comes from music all around the world rather than the almost mindless formula popular and C&W music that all sounds the same and depends a lot on repetition, straight endless rhythm and volume. They embrace it all, including American.

There are some things one would have to get used to. One is while driving, it is all blind corners. The buildings always come up to the street with maybe just a narrow sidewalk.  There are occasionally mirrors mounted so traffic can see around them. Most of the streets are one-way and narrow. There are very few places to make a left turn or even to cross major streets.  There were high center barriers between opposing lanes, when they did have a two-way street.

They know transportation.  The trams were modern, smooth-riding, inexpensive and packed with riders at all hours.  Their taxi were frequent, close-by and reasonable.  Uber was great and very cheap and quick.  Bicycles are used extensively and there are racks for them everywhere.  You can also rent them everywhere.  They also don't run over you. Electric skateboard-type scooters were also numerous and there were even a few Segways and hover boards.

There is that thing that they all speak French and practically refuse to speak or even learn English. They have a poor history with Britain. Having spent time in New Orleans, I found that I knew more French than I thought and I was starting to follow it.  Six months and I'd sound like a Frenchman.

They know style. Everybody in France dresses nice, very nice.  The women are in great dresses and heals, with perfect makeup.  They all look like fashion models. While eating lunch with friends I saw a 9 1/2 month pregnant woman in a form-fitting knock-out dress so red I couldn't anything anywhere that was as red as it was.  She was gorgeous. The females at the table hardily agreed.  

The men usually had a least a coat and tie, if not a suit, on.  Their hair and beards were perfect.  This was everyday dress for them.  You could easily pick out the tourists in casual clothing or just plain sloppy. They are just a good-looking people. They pay attention to their looks.

The nurses, the waiters, sales clerks, drivers and just people on the street were nice, polite and helpful all the time. I am going to find a way to visit Bordeaux again.  I really like the place.