20 - Bums in Bordeaux

So usually when you stay in someone’s home on Airbnb, the majority of personal items are removed in order to make guests feel as welcome as possible. You may get the glimpse at the odd photo or some coats may be hanging in a wardrobe, but other than that there is rarely any sign of life. This was not the case where we stayed in Bordeaux.

We had selected ‘a room in someone’s home with shared bathroom.’ I’d picked this option before and what it had really meant was a private room and bathroom that was in a common area but not used by the people who lived in the home. We arrived to was a warm greeting from our host, her 5 year old son and the dog who jumped all over us and were shown to our room and the shared bathroom. We settled in and both went to freshen up. It was here that we realised we were very much just slotting into their life. On the walls of the separate toilet were photos of our host and her family. But not just any photos, they were photos of their bums. About 20 shots lined the three walls, some of one person’s bum, some, a whole group of bum. Bums of all of different shapes, sizes and dimples. We looked at each other with a questioning ‘should we be worried...’ as sharing a home with nudists had not been in plan.

As we left for dinner that night we were told by our host that we wouldn’t be given a set of keys but when they are home, they leave all the doors unlocked anyway. I enquired as to whether they would be home the next day as we weren’t sure what our movements would be and it’s nice to know that you can come back to your accommodation whenever you want. We were told that she would be there at all times except for 8.30 when she dropped her son at school and 1.30 when she picked him up. She told us that really it should be 3.30 that she picks him up but ‘he still pisses his pants’ so she had to go early, at 1.30. We guessed that he must have a very regular bathroom schedule. Either that or he just has to wait in his wet pants until 1.30 every day.

Feeling well inducted into our host family, we set off for a lovely casual meal in the beautiful cobble-stoned city of St Emilion. The drive there was even more beautiful with the sun setting over rows and rows of vineyards and peeking behind gorgeous and grand chateaus. Trevor was looking very photogenic as he winded through the narrow streets.

Our next and only full day in the Bordeaux region included a wonderful 3 course lunch at the Grand Barrail hotel which may go down as one of the best meals of our trip. We also made some stop offs at different vineyards and did a tasting at Château Frombrauge and Château Cantenac. We were sold enough by the family story at Château Cantenac to buy a bottle of their merlot to take to Spain and share with Linda and Paul on our last evening of the trip.

Bordeaux was absolutely stunning and I don’t think we’ll forget the views in a hurry. It proved a good way to ease James back from the stag do with some more civilised drinking, sunshine and wonderful food.

I’m a bit sad about this one, our next stop is also our last. To San Sebastián!

J & M