Geneva to Bordeaux! December 28, 2017

After a somewhat messy day, and an unbelievably slow boarding process in Geneva, we arrived in Bordeaux. It’s now well after midnight and I’m beginning to fade, so this will either be very short or it will be continued in the morning.

We had a leisurely, but also stressful morning in Geneva; I had taken an antibiotic when I had the stomach problems because I was convinced it was bacterial (still think it was). Anyway, after I began the regimen, I checked with my own doctor who concurred that I should complete the series of 6 tablets. So this morning, I reached to take the pill and couldn’t find the packet. Searched the room inside out (we had already packed to leave Geneva as we needed to vacate the room at the Auberge by noon), unpacked and repacked suitcases – without any luck. We had actually changed rooms at the Auberge the night before because we had no hot water in that room. So, we got keys to the old room and checked there – no luck. Decided to walk down the street to the little café where we had gone for breakfast the morning before (the last time I took the pill), but alas they were not there either.

We headed to Elizabeth’s because the plan was to meet there and then head up the mountain into France (Saleve) to scatter Richard’s ashes (Mike’s brother). By the time we got to Elizabeth’s it had gotten a bit colder, meaning it would be cold up there – and it was snowing (lightly). Since Julia/Julian/ and baby were not yet there, I explained my little problem to Elizabeth who rose to the occasion by contacting a doctor friend who understood and was able to match me up to the local pharmacy who could replace the pills based on her prescription. Thank you Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was also very organized with regard to the plan to manage the ashes – she had little jars lined up (that would be filled before we left the house) and the idea was for each of us to have a little jar to scatter… About 8 or 9 of these jars. But alas – we couldn’t open the urn! The top was stuck. Perhaps a final statement by Richard — taking control of the day! So, that ceremony will be held at another time. We hung out at Elizabeth’s for a while and then headed to a local café for a late lunch before Mike and I headed to the airport. But alas, we dawdled too long and all the cafés were finished serving lunch – drinks only at that point. We eventually found a small place where we could get some food. By now the NY friends had left for the train. After this late lunch and another glass of wine at a second café, we headed to the Geneva Airport, which is a quick taxi ride away.

Given that the airport is essentially situated on the border of Switzerland and France, we could enter the airport on the French side and have less of a customs hassle. We were flying on EasyJet – Europe’s answer to Southwest. We had only taken it once before for a short hop in Europe. The flights are fine, but they cut corners on all of the amenities, check-in, luggage, etc. You can only check in online (cannot check in at the airport); you need to decide if you will have check-in baggage or just carry-on when you purchase your ticket (or soon after) so that you pay for the baggage handling in advance. If you decide later, it is more costly.  You do get an assigned seat.

Anyway, we got to the airport about 2 hours before flight time. It took about 45 minutes to get our bags checked – long snaking lines; and then another 40+ minutes to get through security – more snaking lines. Obviously we have absolutely no status at this airport or with this airline! Once on the other side it was pretty smooth sailing. The flight to Bordeaux is only about 60 minutes. But landing in Bordeaux on EasyJet was pretty funny. You land in a separate terminal from all the other planes and it’s sort of outside of the regular airport. We went into the main terminal briefly (dragging our bags) because we wanted to find an ATM. The main terminal was deserted. I guess ours was the last flight into Bordeaux for the night.

Short taxi to our hotel (Yndo) and voila! Bordeaux. We had driven through Bordeaux some years ago but never stayed. Hard to get a sense of the city on the drive from the airport, but Yndo Hotel is delightful. It’s at the edge of the city center — a 19th-century chateau with just 12 rooms – impeccably decorated and renovated – not in the stuffy French Louis XV style, but tastefully ultramodern! It’s sleek and sophisticated – and also a bit quirky and bohemian with an interesting modern art collection scattered in the public spaces. It’s serious, but also playful in its approach to design. We’re happy campers!

We headed out immediately for a late dinner (10:30 pm reservation at Le Noailles) of oysters, steak tartare, salad with crab and walnuts, wine, and ice cream (pistachio and rum raisin). Guess I’m recovered.

More tomorrow when we truly discover Bordeaux… Most likely in the rain.

All the best on these closing days of 2017 – perhaps the most frustrating year we’ve known.

Fern

 

Insert Photos:

Wild Girls Logo: café where I had lunch on the 27^th with Julia; streets on the square in Carouge have lots of painted “street games” on the plaza – very kid-friendly; on the street in Carouge; baby Louis looking pretty peaceful.