We arrived in Bordeaux by high speed train and had to scurry to quickly find lunch on our own because the chef at the restaurant where we were supposed to eat had decided not to come back from holiday.
Next we had a two hour walking tour on cobblestone streets which was
informative but grueling. Bordeaux has an interesting history as a port city which has been around since Roman times and spent much of it’s life under English rule. Many of it’s 17th century structures feature arched windows which have faces on the keystones representing the diverse population of the city.
Despite its depth of history the city is thriving and a great place for street photography. Colorful street art and people make for lots of interesting subjects.
After a brief rest in our new hotel it was time to proceed back to the streets to make our way to dinner which didn’t end until close to 10pm. Not an unusual event in France.
This morning it was off to St Emilion for a brief lesson in 
wine making followed by a walking tour of the town and the Monolithic Cathedral. After lunch it was back on the bus and back to Bordeaux for some free time exploring the streets of the city on our own.
I found the cathedral and lots of interesting things to photograph but I had to limit myself as to how much I could share.
ay was all about Route 66! There is a stretch of the old highway now maintained by the State of Arizona as AZ66 which veers far away from the interstate and passes through some towns which have dedicated themselves to preserving the history of the iconic route. I had the most fun just looking for abstracts of parts of old cars and trucks.
The next two, a wrecked DeSoto and the hood ornament of a dodge ram truck from the 1930s were found at the Hackberry General store which is a treasure trove of old cars, coca cola signs, gasoline signs and even an old tractor or two.
a sneak peak at Williams where I will be staying on the first night headed back. Williams is a city that has built its economy on its erstwhile position on Route 66 and its proximity to the Grand Canyon. If you are looking for Route 66 kitsch, you will find it in Williams. I found this 1950s ford reflecting its red and white restored gas station for a great hood ornament abstract.
group this evening. I’m looking forward to letting someone else do the driving for a week. I was disappointed to learn that absolutely no photographs are allowed on the Hopi Reservation where we will be going tomorrow but at least I will be able to get some shots at the Heard museum before we head back north. Assuming, of course, we will be able to head back north given the forecast of snow in Flagstaff.