Towns of Bats & Cats: Welcome to the Villages of France
I have a confession to make...I have completely fallen in love with the Aquitaine region of France. This has taken me completely by surprise - sincerely and marvelously swept off my feet. For context, I've been to France almost every other year since 2009...and omg what the heck just happened?!! How did I become so hopelessly smitten??
Humm...maybe it has something to do with this?
Or this?
Oh. But wait there was also that time when...
And then there was our unforgettable host...
Here, we get the impression very few speak English, or they prefer not to share otherwise. It's wonderful!! For me, I was forced to to dig deep and reclaim the French from my youth without the distraction of anything else. In fact, it may have worked too well. I found myself becoming immersed in the views of the rolling hills of the vineyards, and the rapid current of the estuary and finding only words to describe them en français.
"oui je suis bordelais maintenant..."
Okay, so enough of me lusting...it's certainly not what you signed up for I'm sure. Instead, let me share the beautiful corners of this country that you may not have heard of yet...and maybe you too will fall in love!!!
Bourg, is a hidden gem on the right bank of the Dordogne River, in the heart of the wine region of Côtes de Bourg. It is a medieval village perched atop a quiet secret, and seems to have been forgotten by any crowds! An artists' DREAM!!!
When you wake up in the morning, stroll through the ancient streets listening to the birds and the waves, to the Boulangerie et Pâtisserie Grandjean, order two croissants, a baguette, and some canelé. (You're welcome.) Then take the morning, slow as you drink your intense french roast coffee, and saveur the buttery goodness of every flake of that delicious - fresh out of the oven - croissant.
Then hop on your bike, throw on your runners, or jump in your car and explore the hidden corners, vineyard, restaurants, and small local shops the region has to offer! You can walk (or ride) for kilometers and kilometers throughout the regions without seeing more than one or two people! It's remarkable, lush, full of wild flowers, bees, dogs, and whispers of times past.
That's right - don't even go to Bordeaux until day five or something. I mean it! Yes, Bordeaux is a stunner of a city, don't get me wrong. And I genuinely thought it was all that UNTIL our stay in Bourg. I mean...just LOOK at this place!!! O_O
2. Talmont-sur-Gironde
This tiny village is called is called the most beautiful town in France for a reason! It;s hands down adorable. Full of artists, restaurants, local hand-made shops, and a wonderful walking/biking path along the coast through the vineyards! Oh, and the WINE. Yum! (Right now I have a bottle that I'm hording away from Kelly...please don't tell him). The dogs loved it too! ;-)
The Aquitaine region still includes La Rochelle, Blaye, Bordeaux, Margaux...and many. many more places for exploring and enjoying (and by enjoying I totally mean eating and drinking - if you don't feel a bit thicker around the middle while visiting this marvelous corner of France...well then I'm afraid you might be doing it wrong.)
We're in Spain now...and I must admit...I'm missing France. But we're not doing this to be overly comfortable! The entire point of this is to push outside of what makes us feel comfortable and push through to discover new things, places and people that we wouldn't otherwise get the opproutnity to encounter in Victoria, BC!
Oh, but what I wouldn't give for one more wedge of baked French Cambembert, warm and gooey fresh out of the oven with apples...slathered all over a fresh baguette.
Boy, I hope this love is not unrequited.
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