One of the great pleasures of our trip to Bordeaux was not only visiting vineyards to taste the wine, but also to see the vineyards themselves, even tasting a grape or two. And getting to walk the streets of the fabulous cities and river towns like Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Bourg, Cadillac, and Blaye, which are immersed in so much history, took my breath away. We met a wine shop owner and vintner in Blaye who taught me quite a lot about red wine and how to taste and serve it. We tasted grapes at a Chateaux in Margaux, we learned that Santa Clause lives in Bourg, and what Saint-Émilion’s miracles were. We walked through the citadel in Blaye and saw the tide leave boats on mud flats until it returned. We walked the Bordeaux market, Marche du Capuchins, with the ship’s Chef Daniel from Athens who let us taste ham from Iberia with Program Director Oliver from Berlin, and guide Laura from Great Britain, who all work for Viking from Switzerland. Got that? We tasted oysters from Arcachon and met a seafood purveyor who has family in Vermont.

I could write a missive the size of the Magna Carta and not cover all that we learned, so instead I’ll give you the photo evidence of this magical trip.

Click on image to view full size

Santa Claus lives in Bourg? Sort of.  Years ago a postal worker in Bourg was upset that all the letters to Santa were going unanswered, so she took it upon herself to respond to each one. Now there are 75 volunteers who act as Le Père Noël at Christmas, and French kids send their letters to the tiny town of Bourg.

If I were Santa I’d at lease spend my summers there.

Deborah