Marco had a ticket to a match - I went along for the chateau staying, wine consuming, sleeping in, and all around childless general fun.
Marco and I arrived earlier than some of the group whom we were meeting in the city, so we had time to enjoy a nice lunch and catch an Italy vs. Sweden match at one of the more popular Euro Cup viewing bars - L' APOLLO - which randomly made delicious caipirinha cocktails, of all things. Post match we weathered a summer rain storm and headed over to an Irish pub where it was so packed with Irishmen, they were pouring out into the streets. As they were so delightfully drunk - dozens of them serenaded me as I walked in. (Not many ladies make a holiday of the Euro Cup -- mostly a lads trip.)
Later in the day we managed to meet up with the rest of the group and head out the the chateau that we had rented. Some of us in the group were new to each other, but it was a fun vibe. And as I dub every group holiday with a lot of adults - this was THE REAL WORLD BORDEAUX.
The next day the rest of the group headed to the Ireland vs. Belgium match after we all grabbed lunch and drinks in town. I was happy to do some shopping, take photographs of fans in the streets, and then head back to L'APOLLO to watch the matches of the day. It was a beautiful sunny day where I proceeded to drink a many caipirinhas and reapply my red lipstick too many times. It is always so bitter sweet to holiday somewhere warm and sunny - it makes me realize how seldom we get those days in England ...
The next day was spent lazily around the chateau - playing bocce, reading, refilling our mimosa glasses, playing competitive games of table tennis, enjoying lunch together, and then an excellent wine tasting course put on by one of the group's own, Rachel who is a sommelier. (What a talent to bring to the group, btw.) Focusing on Bordeaux wines, it was such an informative and intimate experience, where it might or might not have ended with some of us in the vineyards of our chateau eating the soil so we could get a TRUE SENSE of the vines.
We ended the trip with visit to the quaint town Saint-Émilion. What a beautiful and memorable town overlooking vineyards as far as the eye can see. But what may be more memorable is our George Constanza type parking altercation we got into with a local when he tried to pull into our parking spot. Nope, will never forget it. I clenched my teeth in awkwardness as the other three in the car with me held their own in french.
Santé, Bordeaux
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