Not having visited this region before, we decided to forego the wine routes this time and concentrate on exploring the beautiful city of Bordeaux proper. The Serenity was docking overnight here, thus right after our repeat visit to Nobu for dinner, we boarded the complimentary shuttle @ 8pm and headed out to the center of the city...
we were dropped off across the main public square fronting the Grand Theatre above
made our way towards the pier of the River La Garonne and the classical large square, Place de la Bourse (Stock Exchange) that faces the river Garonne. This newer fountain was erected after the original equestrian statue of Louis XV was attacked and melted down during the French Revolution
interesting 1700 architecture in Louis XV's epoque ... some very nasty faces on the Bourse and the Musee des Douanes( Customs office) :-s
Beautiful fountain of the Three Graces (Beauty / Charm/ Creativity)
As dusk falls we see the warm glow of remaining sunlight on the Pont de Pierre
the bridge is also named after Napoleon Bonaparte as there are exactly 17 arches to mark each letter of the celebrated conqueror of France
lovely gardens that are well used by young friends and families ..just congregating to enjoy the weather & views by the quay
we walked this extensive stretch of the quay and ended up at Esplanade des Quinconces to check out the monument aux Girondins
By fountain in tribute to the group of moderate, bourgeois National Assembly deputies tragically executed during the French Revolution ~ 1793 by radicals of the time
From Dr. Fred Levine's, destination lecturer, 'Tracing Roots of Europe's First Artists', we were eager to witness the largest water mirror in the whole world! ..sadly it was not to be this night as the vapors weren't spewing & the pavements facing La Bourse was completely dry
