May 6 - Bordeaux discovery walk

The day awakened us with a bright sky.  After breakfast we walked to the river Garonne and found this 'Place de  la Bourse' - a central square area built between 1730-1775.    The waterfront is very long.

Here's a pic looking across some flowers at the pont de Pierre bridge, built in 1819.

I'll show you another closer picture of the bridge from later in the day.

Still on our morning walk along the Garonne.

These are the columns at the entrance to the Esplanade des Quinconces, it's one of the largest city squares in Europe.  It was laid out in 1820 and was intended to prevent rebellion against the city.  Its guns were turned towards the center.

We love finding new cathedrals to visit!   This is Eglise Saint-Louis.  It was built between 1874 and 1880.

Walking back towards our hotel we came across the 'Jardin Public', a green space with an arboretum & large lake, plus a natural history museum & a puppet theater.

A cute flower shop on the corner.    We walked along several major boulevards.

This next gate is the Porte Dijeaux, but it was under reconstruction.

This is what it looked like awhile ago.

After lunch we continued our discovery tour and headed out looking for another town gate, cathedral, and the Grand Theater.

We first came across the Place de la Victoire, intended as a gate, in the shape of a triumphal arch, then known as the 'Door of Aquitaine' in homage to the young Xavier of France, Duke of Aquitaine, who died prematurely at the age of five months, was built from 1753-56.

Next on list was to find the 'Basilique Saint-Michel'.   But, an exciting and nervous walk was ahead as we walked through some very 'interesting' neighborhoods.   We finally saw the cathedral.

Built from the 14th through the 16th centuries, it is characteristic of the 'Flamboyant Gothic' style.

One more town gate to find, the Porte de Bourgogne, at the entrance to the Pont de pierre bridge. a Roman-style stone arch built in 1750+.

Now, to find the 'Grand Theatre'.  This opera house was built in 1780.

What a marathon day!   It was similar to waking three 18-hole rounds of golf.   My feet are aching.   Cobblestones are tough!

We pick up our rental car at the train station in the morning and head up the Dordogne River to Sarlat, stopping at several towns along the way to marvel at their 'old towns', chateaus, and castles.

It's now 8:13pm and time to 'publish' this post and head out for some delicious French ice cream/gelato.