Bordeaux

IT'S HOT!!!!
Bordeaux is hotter than Tours, and not much breeze as it is a little bit inland from the Ocean. Spent two days walking around the (quite pretty) town, cancelling my credit card which I'd managed to lose in Tours at the internet cafe, and then cooling off in the fountain in the middle of town. People were using it like a swimming pool. One guy even dived in with all his clothes on - shirt, jacket, tie, socks, shoes and trousers. People were dunking their dogs in it.

Had been placed in a room with an Aussie guy - Brett (seeing a pattern here? - Maybe God is trying to tell me something???). Anyway, he seemed perfectly ok, until I realised that he never says anything at all positive and whines a lot. Aaaaaaargh. But he did help me cancel my credit card, which involved, very simply, buying a phone card, finding a phone (easier said than done when all the phone booths turn to ovens and you need an air-conditioned one in order to keep your senses), and then jotting down some notes. Also, he is very handy for map-reading so I've been keeping him on. I suck at map-reading.

We didn't do any wine tours as we had heard that they were a bif of a rip-off. But we did buy some very cheap Bordeaux and drink it by the fountain. (Well, I drank it actually - Brett doesn't drink. Have you ever heard of an Aussie that doesn't drink? I think it's quite a bad sign....)

Ten facts about the French that I have discovered:

1) French people kiss. A lot.
2) French people are a million times more polite than the Brits and I don't care how many people disagree with me. They're all wrong.
3) French people address each other as Sir or Madame and are very formal (like the Japanese).
4) It is illegal to be fat in France.
5) It is illegal to be ugly in France.
6) French food is flipping fantastic and I want to learn how to make it.
7) It has, and probably always will, remain a total mystery to me how French women stay so good looking after popping out three perfect looking children, wear white all day and keep it white, and still manage to look like they could grace the cover of Vogue.
8) French people do not gain weight even after eating three pain-a-chocolat for breakfast, a brie and pate bagette for lunch and a three-course gourmet dinner followed by a gelato ice-cream. Unfortunately I do.
9) French Fries are not served with everything, as they are in most other countries.
10) I don't think I was ever French in a former life.

Was very glad to leave Bordeaux and the heat for Spain and staying by the ocean...