bordeaux and saint-émilion

During the Euro Cup 2016, Marco and I got away for a long weekend to Bordeaux with some friends.

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

three ladies and a baby in paris

Three ladies and a baby!  My dear dear girls Sarah and Lauren made their second trip across the pond for a visit.  They were our first friends to come from America to meet Simone.  Since they both had already done the tour of the midlands and London, we decided to go spend five days in Paris.

This trip feels like ages ago (it was...) so recalling it will be a challenge.  I look back on it as one of those trips that 20 years down the road from now we'll be sitting around, "... Remember that one trip to Paris?  We were in our early 30's and Simone was a wee babe? We stayed in an Airbnb apartment in the Marais and ate at all the best joints!"

I lobbied hard for Marco to join us in Parieeee as "the manny" but he refused. #Threeladiedandababy was born.

After the girls' arrival, they settled in with a few days in the countryside - long walks, pub lunches, too much bubbly consumption in the cottage.

We took the chunnel to Paris, about 2 hours door to door from London.  We checked into our airbnb apartment in the Marais - owned by handsome Dani and his cute girlfriend Valentine.

Simone was at the perfect stage - she would sleep the day (or late nights) away in the Baby Bjorn carrier.  We kept it to bustling restaurants at night, in case she kicked off we wouldn't disturb anyone. We went to the fancier spots (Le Comptior!) for lunches.

We brunched al fresco in our neighborhood - where I would have been content to sit and people watch for the rest of my days.  We wandered parks like Jardin du Luxenburg and Place des Vosges. We had a picnic and took selfie stick photos on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower.  And duh, we shopped.

I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked.  Most of these are borrowed from Lauren. (Thanks, Lo.  Love ya, mean it.)

Forgive me if I've said this on a previous Paris post - this city never gets old to me.  It is vast and can be overwhelming when you list the museums and sights that you want to hit in a short trip.  But if you slow it down, narrow your list, and take some time to enjoy the residential arrondissments, it's a much better experience.

We ended their trip with a day in London - The Victoria and Albert museum for the Alexander McQueen exhibit and a champagne high tea at The Dorchester in London.  (As one does.)

Lauren and Sarah thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to see us again and letting "your baby" tag along when she was still so little!