Bordeaux to Paris

bordeaux, France. The first thing that comes to the mind at the mention of this historic city, situated by the Garonne river, is its iconic red wine. And there was enough of it during the one night we spent in the city. An early morning departure for paris was what we were planning but early-to-bed doesn’t happen easily in Bordeaux. We prepared ourselves mentally for a long day before hitting the sack late in the night.

Frankly, Bordeaux is a city that’s hard to drive out of. But then our destination, though predictable, was far more enticing than any other in France. The city of romance, Paris. So with a curious mixture of mild sadness at leaving Bordeaux and a high degree of anticipation for what lay ahead, we started our journey.

The distance between Bordeaux and Paris is just under 600 km, which sounds like a lot to cover. But, like anywhere else in Europe, France’s six-laned motorways, like the A10 to Paris, are superbly surfaced. However, beware the French gendarmerie. The ever watchful police keep a sharp eye out for those driving over the speed limit, which, in France, is 130 kmph.

Factor in a few stops en route. The scenery on both sides of the road is too beautiful to just drive through. At times we felt we were driving into a landscape painting by Van Gogh. There were vineyards on both sides, washed in the bright, clear sunlight that is characteristic of European summers. Such scenery would make you want to park the car aside for a while, bring out the picnic hamper and laze in the sun with a book or over a board game as you nibble at sandwiches.

A chateau here and a chateau there punctuates the stretches of green. And as you drive along, you will also go past many chapels. Unless it’s a Sunday, there’s no point stopping at any of the chapels. It is likely to be locked.

The drive seemed effortless and we kept moving at a relatively uniform pace. Watch out for the cyclists if it’s a summer drive. Thirty kilometres each hour over 100 is pretty quick and it doesn’t take more than seven to eight hours of driving, stops included, to reach the outskirts of Paris. Entry to the French capital is not half as easy as the drive.

When inbound traffic from the highway meets heavy city traffic, the obvious result is a snarl. You may find yourself stationary for sufficiently long periods to remind you of such nightmares back home. Blaring horns, cars cutting across lanes and people shouting sweet-sounding curses in French add to the sense of familiarity.

Get past the entry point and things calm down sufficiently to allow you to enjoy this city fabled for its romance. The romance though is not apparent immediately. Rather it grows on you as you walk the cobbled streets, sample the croissants and crêpes, and sip on coffee at quaint roadside cafes. And don’t let cynics put you off the idea of gazing at the magnificent Eiffel Tower. Yes, it’s touristy but you can’t leave Paris without an Eiffel moment.