My personal curiosities of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region !!!

Posted in Europe, Food and Wine, France

I am on the nostalgic memorable personal road warrior mode in my belle France, Hope you have notice by now ,,,,,,I like to take you on a tour of the places dear to me as it has been many trips, and riding the country roads of this vast region of France. We enjoy it very much. This time , I would like to tell you about my personal curiosities of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of my belle France !!! Hope you enjoy it as I,

This is the by chance and hungry stop we did at a little bakery in Bielle and had our breakfast at boulangerie Laloubére! on the run with the mountains in front of us before the big push over to Spain. The town is crossed by the departmental road 934, the one we take always also known as the route du Portalet. Wonderful scenic route! This became our must stop in subsequent years and the family love it ! Memories forever !!!

Bielle boul laloubere bakery PF et MF aug16

The Place des Quinconces is one of the main squares in Bordeaux. It was created in the early 19C on the site of Château Trompette, it is made up of an esplanade descending gently towards the Garonne river framed to the north and south of tree plantations. The imposing monument to the Girondins and two rostral columns decorate the two ends. Its area of 12 hectares, which makes it the largest square in France and one of the largest in Europe. The Girondins monument consists of a large base framed by two basins, decorated with horses and bronze groups, and surmounted by a column 43 meters high where culminates at 54 meters in height the statue of liberty breaking its irons in green bronze. A must stop in Bordeaux me think, great moments there

Bordeaux espl quinconces fountain RF MF NF aug08

We walked the street of Cours de l’Intendance curious about the tramway and it was stop for lunch on the Bistro Romain,  a restaurant chain that was my first invitation to my then girlfriend to eat in Paris, they had a branch here and of course we stop by. The girlfriend became my wife in 1990, and missed greatly my dear late Martine.  Unfortunately this chain has closed but the memories will stay forever. This street in Bordeaux at no 57 Goya lived,died in 1828,and now a Spanish cultural center ! 

Bordeaux bistro romain cours intendance the gang aug08

We love it going to the beaches of Lacanau-Océan,and renting campings along the beaches . A family tradition for years sadly stop as my sons grew older and missing my dear late Martine. Lacanau Océan is divided into the Plage Sud, Plage Centrale, and Plage Nord. All beautiful !!! Of course, this is a world center on surfing! Not to miss for you beachgoers! 

lacanau ocean Pedro and kids city center aug06

Lacanau ocean plage centrale pedro and father aug08

Going along the coast and Atlantic Ocean in the Médoc you have beaches galore and one particular one dear to us was  Carcans  as locals call it, but officially Carcans-Maubuisson.  The town is a seaside resort enjoying both the Atlantic Ocean and the largest natural freshwater lake in France. It is composed of five poles: but for the visitors the main are  Carcans city center or bourg; Maubuisson,  with a great lake beach and water activities. A great memorable spot !!

Carcans maubisson parking xavier pipo and pedro aug08

You just have to switch to the other side into the Garonne river along the D2 road and reach the magnificent Château Mouton-Rothschild  a splendid place , beautiful gardens, great cellars and a wonderful museum all in one.  In 1954, Rothschild married his mistress, Pauline Fairfax Potter , an American, born in Paris, who was a fashion designer at Hattie Carnegie.   The property was carried out by the daughter of first marriage, Philippine de Rothschild, the Baronnes which I have met been direct with the property for its wines. She had the stage name of Philippine Pascal, and was previously known as an actress, mainly at the Théâtre (Comédie-Française), but also, in a more marginal way to film and television. The personal Pauillac pictures as a memoriam anecdote, my dear late wife Martine was not into wine when we married in 1990, however, over the years she became alongside a good taster and fine companion, will be missed forever.

Pauillac mouton rothschild MF aug08

Pauillac mouton rothschild reception tastings PF aug08

Going over to our base into the region central area and our many times rest stop on our way to my dear Spain, this is Pau. We had many nice experiences here and several posts ,one particular one was having some beers at the La Brasserie Royale in the place Royale. The Place Royale is the central point of the city, it is notably bordered by the City/Town Hall of Pau, by the old Hôtel de France and by the Boulevard des Pyrénées.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

 We had our times in Saint Jean de Luz , along the coast down south where we use as base to visit San Sebastian. Here, we were for seeing “Joanoenia” better known as the Maison de l’Infante at 1, quai de l’Infante. Here was welcomed Marie-Thérèse before her marriage to king Louis XIV to settle the peace between France and Spain in 1659 which borders still holds true today, Most is closed to visitors, except that of the room known as the Infanta, the 17C salon, monumental sculpted fireplace, beams richly decorated with mysterious motifs, and the oratory, but the exteriors are magnificent and deserve a look.

st jean de luz PF RF XF maison infanta front aug08

There you go folks, this is a huge area and pick only those pictures dear to me older but nice, Always looking forward to be back, eventually, Again, hope you enjoy the post on my personal curiosities of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of my belle France !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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