Emergency in Bordeaux

Clermont Ferrand was adorable. Perhaps the town of soot and glamour left me too high. Next would be the golden city of Bordeaux.

Everyone I had spoken to gushed about Bordeaux. I purposely kept myself ignorant of its charms until my visit. I wanted to be wowed.

I rolled my car through the streets slowly in the creeping darkness at 6pm, looking for a spot to park. I found a place that made me uneasy but Terry (the car) is a big girl. I trusted she could handle her own.

My plan was to do a spot of work when I arrived at the Airbnb to give me as much time in Bordeaux as possible. I wanted to bask in that golden glory.

So you can imagine my rage when I checked into my Airbnb and found this.

Now this was a self check in situation. Clearly one of those Airbnb companies with several properties in which they outsource the cleaning.

I contacted the host immediately expressing my displeasure as kindly as I possibly could. My nature is aggressive so I go to great lengths to restrain myself.

The excuses flowed.

I can accept that there was a mix up with the dates.

I can accept that my booking was relatively short notice (2 days).

What I can't accept was the suggestion that I should clean the apartment for my own stay with the cleaning appliances in the building, which this host had the nerve to say to me.

To prevent my face turning purple, I stomped back to my car, breathing deeply. I made a claim for a refund and looked for a hotel with parking. I found myself at a hotel on the outskirts of town with a reliable tram line.

Surely I would have the energy for plenty of exploring after this rigamarole. But the whole experience drained me. I slept late into the next afternoon, consumed with self flagellation.

When I did manage to drag myself out to Bordeaux, I saw the appeal. The city truly is golden. All of the buildings are a warm ochre/tan brown hue that radiate in the sun. A kind gentleman in a bookstore in Clermont Ferrand told me that Bordeaux had had a lot of investment since the advent of the fast train between it and Paris. It became second hotspot city with booming industry and tourism.

I walked around. Far less bustle than Marseille or Lyon. Bordeaux was a portrait of calm. The sunlight dappled off of the buildings, illuminating the stone in amber. There was less of a pulse which my miserly self quite enjoyed. A quiet big city.

Looking back on it, I feel quite disappointed with my two days in Bordeaux. It's not the city's fault. I was frustrated with my own lack of energy.

So let's say that this was an introduction to Bordeaux. I hope to spend a more meaningful amount of time there in the future. For now, golden city, I say

"Ta ta for now"

Olivia