I’m so over the Chicken, Children & Chardonnay. At least for a week.
Just packing up to leave for a press trip to the Aquitaine area of France, where I will be putting on my travel writing cap (or should that be beret) and visiting some of the most beautiful and wine-iforous parts of Europe. I’ll be detailing my adventures in upcoming issues of GoodLife Magazine, and Dabble Magazine.
I’ll be flying Air France into Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, for a quick transfer over to a flight on to Bordeaux, landing on Wednesday morning. From there we’ll be traveling to the Bay of Arcachon, and lunch (all that and it’s only lunchtime?) at Chez Diego . We’ll continue on to the Hotel Point France, which faces the central beach of Aragon. We’ll walk down to the Cafe de la plague, “Chez Pierre” for dinner. And that’s just the first day. Want to read more?
Thursday September 8th we’ll be leaving to travel to La Dune du Pilat, the highest natural sand dune in Europe – I actually visitied this dune in 2006, and after having trekked up the dunes with my then 4, 7, 13 and 15 year old children, I can attest to its staggering height and length. Lunch is at the Hotel Restaurant la co(o)rniche, before heading on a boat to travel through the bay to Cap Ferret. We’ll then return to Bordeaux, to check into the Hotel Tour Intendance, and dinner at La Tupina. It is at this point in the trip that I may be searching for clothes with a larger waist. Because tomorrow brings something I’ve never heard of before…
Friday we start the day (as one does) with a wine tasting at the Ecole du vin de Bordeaux, to properly set us up for a sightseeing tour around the city. At the end of the day we’re heading out of Bordeaux and taking part in the Night of 1000 Pastas. This is the typical carbo load for the marathoners who will be taking part in the Medoc Marathon. I am not running the marathon, but will selflessly attempt to eat pasta for every course. I know, brave. And again, where are those larger pants?
We will be eating at the Chateau Castera, and staying at the Hostellerie des Criquets.
Saturday Sept 10th brings marathon day, where some brave members of our media group will be participating. I will be following part of the marathon – and this will be my Dabble Dare that you’ll have to wait to read about. Let’s just say I was born to ride.
After we congratulate the runners as they cross the finish line at the Medoc Marathon, (bear in mind this is a wine tasting marathon, so the times may be altered to allow for staggering…) we’ll be heading for (you guessed it) a wine tasting at Chateau du Taillan and then heading back to Bordeaux for a night at the fabulous Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux.
Sunday sees us heading to Saint-Emilion, for a tour of a (yep) winegrower, a picnic lunch and a tour of a monolithic church, the catacombs, and more. Back to Bordeaux for dinner at Brasserie de l’Europe. I’m thinking there will be wine, this being our final night.
Monday we will be heading back to the Bordeaux airport and saying au revoir to the Aquitaine region of France. If you’re planning a trip there, make sure to visit the tourist boards for more information at the Comite Departemental de Tourisme de la Gironde, and The Office de tourisme de Bordeaux. It’s not too late to start training for next year’s Medoc Marathon. And by training I might just mean tasting.
