We just couldn't resist...

.....a trip to Bordeaux. Any excuse for not working eh! Karen had to drop her cousin at the airport so it seemed only right to combine the journey with a shopping inspirational trip into Bordeaux. Using the park & ride facility, we were able to take a leisurely tram straight into the heart of the city, arriving near the Grand Hotel & Opera House.

Just around the corner is the most amazing macaroon & chocolate shop....yum, yum.... If you look hard at the top of the photo you will see the amazing chocolate shapes they make, like a basket ball and shoe, (sorry the photo is not better but the sales assistant was getting suspicious!).

There are such beautiful buildings in Bordeaux, so much to see.....every street has something interesting, perhaps a church or a pied à terre nestling between.

Lots of carvings, ironwork & intricate details.....isn't that door knocker lovely?

But this trip was not for looking at the architecture....well, not much anyway....it was Kelly's first time in the city so we just had to shop! Off to the Rue St. Catherine...ooooohh, shops as far as the eye can see. As the saying goes......so many shops, so little time!

All that shopping is thirsty work so L'Autre Salon de Thé at 11 Rue des Remparts is a must.

This is a little gem, a short walk from the main shopping street. This place is so inviting. Crystal chandeliers, antiqued mirrors & an amazing array of cakes. How nice to drink tea out of china cups & nibble on home-made cakes. The choice of tea is extensive & each person gets an individual pot. There is a wicked-looking hot chocolate topped with a swirl of Chantilly cream as well as lots of other drinks to choose from. But the cakes........double chocolate cake, tarte au citron, gooey fudge cake, lemon meringue pie, apple & summer berry crumble cake & some of the biggest scones we had ever seen. And after all that cake.....more shopping of course!

And finally, just had to include this....

When you know us better you will realise this is a very rare photo of Karen as she's very camera shy!

                                                               Á bientôt,