Bordeaux

The remnants of Storm Ciaran sweep in from the Atlantic, covering the city in persistent rain until 3pm on the day of our arrival. Miraculously however, the clouds clear in time for Union Bordeaux Begles' Top 14 rugby match against Montpellier, and we watch as the home team prevail 26-13.

More importantly, it's Claire's birthday, so we head into the city centre for some beer tasting and dinner to celebrate the occasion properly!

Bordeaux is after all, a city of wine, so the following day we grab a nice glass or two on one of the main squares. The rain has returned however, so we find a good vantage point under shelter to watch people struggle with umbrellas and paper shopping bags!

Once the sun comes out again, we head to the river via Place de La Bourse, where the giant reflecting pool adds to the view of the old Stock Exchange buildings.

After a fifteen walk up the promenade, we stop at the Musee du Vin, a small museum situated in the cellar of a 1700s Irish wine merchant, focused on the history of wine trading in the city. The visit ends with a tasting session of a local claret and red.

Our last destination in Bordeaux is an old submarine base developed by the Italians during World War Two. These days it is used as an art and exhibition space. The show we go to see is based on the Tintin series, and uses the vast walls of the building, as well of the reflection of the water in the pens, to great effect.