Photos by Sarah Gilboe ©  °  Text and GPS maps by jack yeazel

Also check Sarah's trips to the North Pole and China

Click on thumbnails below for larger views
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Overall Trip Map

The street maps (below) are courtesy OpenStreet Maps

Day 1, March 29, 2015, Bordeaux
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Tour of Bordeaux Track

One of France's most beautiful destinations (from a collection by CNN.COM)

City Tour of Bordeaux
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One of the oldest areas in town, and when ships came to port this was one of the first areas the sailors would see. (WP-001)
 

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Ancient Buildings and Art

Day 2, March 30, 2015
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Ship Cruise Bordeaux to Cadillac

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Sceans Along the River

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Accomodations aboard the ship are very nice  °  Mrs. Gilboe notes her approval
 

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  City Tour of Cadillac                                 °                             Cadillac to Liborne

Day 3, Mar 31 2015,  Libourne and St. Emilion City Tours
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Libourne Market
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                                           Fruit of the Sea (WP Fish Market)                                                                     °      Fruit of the Vine (WP Ship Wine)
 

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Some of the Chateau’s we passed in the countryside.  Most of the Chateaus are not lived in anymore due to costly upkeep.
 

Saint-Emilion
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(WP Ruins)

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Saint-Emilion is a medieval town with narrow steep streets. You have to be fit to live here.

Day 4, Apr. 1, 2015- Bourg to Blaye
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City of Bourg (to meet ship to Blaye)               °                                      Ship track to Blaye
 

City of Blaye

Blaye and the Citadel
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This is on the Eastern side of the Garonne with the 17th c. Citadel.

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  Blaye is also celebrated for the Cotes de Blaye red wines, very tasty.

Day 5. Apr. 2, 2015- Blaye to Pauillac
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  Ship track to Pauillac                                 °                                            City of Pauillac

Paullac, Médoc & Margaux Wine Regions
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Pauillac is a busy port and home to some of the more expensive Chateaus.
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Château Lafite Rothschild owned by members of the Rothschild family since the 19th century.
Lafite was one of four wine-producing Châteaux of Bordeaux originally awarded First Growth status in the 1855 Classification, which was based on recent prices.  Since then, it has been a consistent producer of one of the world's most expensive red wines.
 

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Château Pichon Baron's 73 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%) .
 

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Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and then macerated for 20-30 days, and fermented at 28-32 °C in temperature controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes.
 

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The wine is transferred into oak barrels for aging after finishing its malolactic fermentation.  The estate also produces a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville.
 

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Chateau Kirwan where we had a lovely dinner in the great hall of this fine Chateau and tasted their delicious wines. Château Kirwan has 40 hectares (99 acres) of vineyards, planted to 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.

Day 6, Apr. 3, 2015 - Pauillac to Bordeauix

 

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Industrial and military activity along the river
 

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Walking around Bordeaux on our last day there.  The city is well kept and beautiful.  Definitely a must see.