After smashing it down from Amsterdam via Paris going a good 200km/h on the train, the Battlers arrived in Bordeaux St Jean train station where they’d meet Millie. For those who may not know, Millie is a good mate of ours from back home and she is studying abroad for a semester.

So it seemed as simple as just meeting Mille in the train station, but like all things we do that are supposed to be easy, this was no different. The Battlers lugged their backpacks around to every ‘sortie’ keeping an eye out for Millie. We couldn’t find her anywhere which led us to believe that perhaps we had got off at the wrong Bordeaux. It sounds like a stupid thought but it almost happened to us trying to get to Valencia in Spain at the start of our travels. Couldn’t rule anything out. After searching for aaaaggggeesssss, like ten minutes or something, I sat and minded the bags as Eddie went to the next section of the train station to ask if there was another station in Bordeaux. The next thing I know, from behind these arms come around and grapple me. I was about to elbow the persons face to knock them out as I thought someone was trying to knock off our stuff. Lucky I didn’t because Eddie had found Millie! She had been waiting at tram stop C where she had told me on Facebook we would meet. This bit of information my brain decided to neglect, obviously not helpful.

Millie took the Battlers to her apartment in the ‘Mosman area’ of Bordeaux as she referred to it. She gave up her double bed and slept on a single bed as she knew how much Ed and I love a good old spoon. Not complaining though, at least I got my quarter of the bed and Eddie got his three quarters. She had two bottles of wine and cheese and bickies waiting for us to satisfy those still remaining munchies. Had a tasty chicken pasta for dinner as well.

Everything is closed on Sunday because everyone is lazy. Only thing that was open was a few corner shops and these food and bevvy markets along the rivers edge. Funny thing about the river. They had to fence it off because too many people were swimming in its quick current when they were drunk and they’d die. Talk about a bunch of geese. At these markets we met some of Millie’s Bordeaux mates, many of whom live in Sydney. We discussed the various lines of connections knowing friends of friends and realising the world is a much smaller places at times than you’d expect it to be.

Unfortunately, the old man kept snoring as it was raining, and pouring for the majority of the time we were in Millie’s presence. Hopefully we didn’t dampen the mood by bringing bad weather. Complemented with the company of the rain was the darkness. This created a massive wave of laziness or ‘r&r’ as the term most prefer to use. It didn’t bother any of us though as being around each other and just relaxing was exactly what the Battlers needed after a hectic past few weeks.

Bordeaux is a nice place with plenty happening. Apparently it was only in 2000 that people flocked back to the city. Can’t remember why hardly anyone lived there before then but you’ll have to google it if you want to find out.

Both Battlers are extremely appreciative for your superb hospitality (nothing new or unexpected) and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for putting up with our dribble for the past week. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the change in company, we sure did. Enjoy the rest of your time in Bordeaux and don’t wish a minute away. At the stage of our trip now, we aren’t wishing a second away.

Good seeing ya buddy