tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post6258859877353644779..comments2024-03-23T00:40:43.258+01:00Comments on Michele's life en franglais: Thoughts on BordeauxMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-88437823457066944512014-07-15T23:17:16.494+02:002014-07-15T23:17:16.494+02:00Interesting article.... I live in Tours and have b...Interesting article.... I live in Tours and have been here for about 2 years now. I find it an interesting place but also find that one can get bored easily here as well... I am curious as to what you enjoyed here so much that makes you want to move back into the city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-86876051008975885692014-05-26T17:40:01.712+02:002014-05-26T17:40:01.712+02:00Yes, I imagine Picardie must be even more difficul...Yes, I imagine Picardie must be even more difficult than Bordeaux. At least there are some Americans here, I'm just struggling to really meet any around my age and in a similar situation (i.e. not students here for a few months, etc). But I have at least managed to meet some Brits. In the end I'm not too picky either!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-22558206346794353702014-05-24T11:37:48.845+02:002014-05-24T11:37:48.845+02:00I've never been to Bordeaux, so it's inter...I've never been to Bordeaux, so it's interesting to read what you have to say about it. I haven't ever found any Americans here in Picardie either (or Brits, or Aussies, I'm not picky!) and have pretty much given up; but I do regret it because my kids' English could use some more help than just I can give them. :\Alisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16726813616241170310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-15513242068577708612014-05-23T12:04:04.323+02:002014-05-23T12:04:04.323+02:00Ah yes, well we've had many talks about a lot ...Ah yes, well we've had many talks about a lot of these points. And hopefully the transportation and flight options will improve with time. The wine bars still frustrates and confuses me, but not much I can do about it. The job situation, well at this point I prefer not to dwell too much on that...it will just stress me out.<br /><br />I'm curious about this new wine museum you mentioned...going to have to do some investigation!<br /><br />For the rest of it, like I said, I don't hate it here, but I don't love it either. For me Bordeaux is just a city where I ended up but I'm going to try to make the most of it. I know everywhere has its faults so I'm just going to give Bordeaux a chance. And yes, having the beach so close is a definite point in Bordeaux's favor!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-49536810509655209092014-05-23T11:59:27.111+02:002014-05-23T11:59:27.111+02:00Perhaps you are right. But it still just seems st...Perhaps you are right. But it still just seems strange to me since the wine bars all offer a variety of different wines from all over France and the world, and they aren't all best served with food! Mais bon, tant pis.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-66049480124144533222014-05-23T11:57:54.452+02:002014-05-23T11:57:54.452+02:00Ah yes, Loire wines. Give me a Saumur Champigny, ...Ah yes, Loire wines. Give me a Saumur Champigny, St. Nicolas de Bourgueil or Chinon for reds and a Vouvray (still or bubbly) for whites and I will be one happy lady! I don't need all these fancy Bordeaux wines.<br /><br />I have looked into the USA-Bordeaux association but unfortunately was not able to attend either their 4th of July or Thanksgiving event last year. Hoping to check it out for this year. But other than those two big events, from what I've seen on their website at least, it seems like they mostly just host lectures, organize book clubs and do more family oriented things and most of which are too early in the evening for me to be able to attend. So I've been hesitant to pay the membership fee, though I'm hoping to be able to do the 4th of July event this year to check it out a bit more and see if there are any younger members. Alas, I just looked and I will be out of town for their 4th of July picnic this year. No offense to the older members or families, but like I said in my post, I'm primarily looking to meet people in a similar situation and with whom I would have a lot in common. People who could be free to meet up on a regular basis. But you are right and I should probably go check it out one time when I can. I definitely don't have anything to lose. I should also look into the expat Women's Club a bit more. I know it is there but I've never seriously considered joining as I had always hoped to manage on my own.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-27044551483706696022014-05-23T11:37:55.126+02:002014-05-23T11:37:55.126+02:00I know exactly how you feel and blah is the perfec...I know exactly how you feel and blah is the perfect way to describe it! Just couldn't think of that word when I was writing this post, but blah would be perfect to explain my overall feelings toward Bordeaux.<br /><br />When it come to Bordeaux wines I am generally picking at random too!. Though, hopefully soon living in this town will pay off and I will have at least a bit more of an idea what I'm buying. I'll definitely have to think about doing a post to help all of us who are lost in regards to Bordeaux wines, if I ever manage to figure it all out myself!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-8743340111319078702014-05-18T03:41:55.233+02:002014-05-18T03:41:55.233+02:00I agree with so many of the things you've said...I agree with so many of the things you've said: I was surprised by the wine bars, public transport could be improved, there are wine snobs here, Asian food is better and cheaper in Paris, la rive droite is dead, more flights to eastern Europe. <br /><br />I really like living here, but I know what it means to live here. In my opinion, Bordeaux is not an easy city to live in for foreigners. On Tuesday my Italian friend was in tears because she had gotten a negative reply for a teaching position, one of the rare offers that she has managed to find. Finding a job in Bordeaux is not easy. And it does get lonely here, I definitely know all about that! <br /><br />But yeah, the size of this city is perfect for me as well and I like the weather here. It's flat so I can cycle around easily. And I prefer the beach to the mountains, which is good because the beach is so close. I like the food as well; I can't get enough of seafood and duck. There are so many things here that I love. But I can understand that you prefer to live elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with that.<br /><br />I agree about the museums; nothing inspires me either. Stay tuned for the new wine museum! <br /><br />One thing I've found out: I going to restaurants and eating on their terrace. The only thing is, the service and food are often not the same as what you would get in a restaurant that doesn't have a terrace. I don't think if this is a Bordeaux thing, but it really gets on my nerves.Den nationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259526826141331097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-36777235110654320332014-05-17T13:23:42.198+02:002014-05-17T13:23:42.198+02:00Maybe they only serve wine with food because Borde...Maybe they only serve wine with food because Bordeaux wines are generally best drunk with food? Perhaps it's even a perverse way of saving their market from those rival Loire Valley wines which are much better served as aperitifs!<br /><br /> Canedoliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793959858820555197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-68094037135459385262014-05-17T11:55:48.148+02:002014-05-17T11:55:48.148+02:00I'm a big Loire wine fan too - give me a chill...I'm a big Loire wine fan too - give me a chilled Muscadet sur Lie (which is not sweet despite the name btw) over a Bordeaux any day! I'm also a big fan of the Cremants de Loire - much cheaper than champagne and just as tasty.<br /><br />And this is maybe a dumb question, but have you checked out the USA-Bordeaux association at all? I know they do quite a few events, like 4th of July parties etc. I also thought there was a Women's Club for anglophone expats, but maybe that is not around anymore?Ksamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991667611234163617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-54465523568392618232014-05-17T10:35:12.027+02:002014-05-17T10:35:12.027+02:00I am a bit blah about our new town too, though it&...I am a bit blah about our new town too, though it's only 30 minutes away from our old one (=30 minutes closer to work!) so not really that different in style/culture. But it's less young, more family-oriented, which I suppose is what we are now! But we could have gone to any other town the same distance from work and I would have felt the same. Not loving it, not hating it, just blah. <br /><br />Bordeaux wines are not my favorite either! Though that's what I usually bring back for friends in the states, since it's the one name everyone knows, but I pick at random, haha. Definitely do a post on it when you know more about the different kinds, help me out a bit, lol.Blondering Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01876231539601461502noreply@blogger.com