How to "go" in Bordeaux?

Welcome one and all to my second post from the beautiful city of Bordeaux in SW France. I has only been a week since my last entry and I have already been to two festivals here! As you can see, it is such a vibrant city, and there is always something going on. And without further ado, let's get into it!

Oh actually, I know that this particular title's a bit weird, but all of these I think are perfectly reasonable for being round here =P

The v.cute beer beaker 

Drumming band for the music fest.

Deafened: This first way to go refers to the Fête de la musique that happened last weekend. This was not for a particular genre of music and you didn't need to be a professional to take part. There was a big stage in Quinconces for some acts (I'm assuming professionals but I don't know for certain as I didn't know them) but you didn't necessarily need to go there even if you were an amateur - if you wanted to play in the street, you played in the street. Personally, I think that those were the better acts - such as a drumming ensemble, jazz band and a small gospel group - which were incredible, and also did Happy Birthday (or Joyeux Anniversaire), supposedly for someone in the crowd. For a lot of the festival, we decided to drink our beers (which were 3.50 euros including 1 euro for the beaker deposit, that is ironically advertising some festival in August) on the grass rather than join the crowds around the stage, which was a lot nicer, just to get a bit more air and listen to the music in a more relaxed fashion - and also, we were actually able to talk. Being deafened also refers to my first experience at a club in Bordeaux - this one was called La Plage, and it had many different rooms for different styles of music. It was pretty good, and not as claustrophobic as the clubs in Bangor are, but as it was quite expensive, I'm not sure I would want to stay there till the first bus around 5 in the morning. Also, I'd forgotten that you can't take your bags into a French nightclub - it came as a bit of a nasty shock/reminder to me, let alone everyone else!

La Plage du Lac by day...

... and at sunset

Baked by the sun: As I said, it is generally pretty hot here, and unfortunately, I have been burnt, but not from sunbathing on the beach - for being out on the balcony on Skype and forgetting to top up my sun-cream before doing so. I had a lovely big burnt patch on my shoulders/the top of my back for a little bit. It has reminded me though that you have to be so careful, not just around here, but pretty much anywhere when it's bright. Ironically, I had been to the beach for hours that very day and got nothing from that - I was so good with my sun-cream, wouldn't stop applying it and all, and then go out onto the balcony for more than 20 mins!!! Anyway, about this particular beach that we went to last Sunday, it's more of a fake beach if anything. It's called La Plage du Lac (Lake Beach) as it is made by one of the lakes in Bordeaux (forgotten which one I'm afraid), 15 mins on the tram from the centre. It's really beautiful and the water was nice and cool if you want a little swim. I've also been there at sunset with a couple of my friends and it's gorgeous. We think we might have also seen an otter swimming in the water at one point. I know that I will definitely go back, both at day and night! However, I want to round this bit up by saying ALWAYS WEAR SUN-CREAM!! And remember to re-apply it too.

Introducing the Fête le vin

Bitten by mosquitoes: I have mentioned this in the past, but I have had some pretty bad mosquito bites. Well it turns out I am likely to be allergic to them; I honestly do not know why I didn't think of that sooner, and so feel a little bit stupid. I am now on antihistamines and they're working so far, so fingers crossed that'll be that... Otherwise, it would be a pretty nasty way to go...

Ellie and I with our first wine of many!

Drowned in wine: Now that's a little bit more like it.... Since this Thursday until this Sunday, it is the Fête le vin in Bordeaux. Beforehand, we all got prepared and got our little kits. For 15 euros (it would have been 20 during the festival itself), we got a wine glass, bus ticket for one day's travel and a heck of a lot of coupons for lots of different wines they were having on show. I don't normally drink wine because it normally gives me a really bad headache after 1 glass. However, since I knew I was going to be in Bordeaux, I said from the get-go that I was going to put that aside and have some of the proper stuff - and I wasn't disappointed. Here, I have had some of the nicest wine I have ever had in my life, red, white and rose'. I have been both on the Friday and Saturday and have had plenty to drink on both days, but on the Saturday evening, it had to close early due to security problems - it had been windy all day and there was a chance that a storm was going to come. It was a shame but we had our share of wine by then as well as AMAZING duck and onion baguettes so it wasn't all bad news. Near the end of the festival, there is also a light show on the main building in Place de la Bourse (à la Fête des lumières) as well as a fireworks display from the river, which was a lot better than the fireworks I "saw" on bonfire night. I have included the best picture I took (and there were a LOT as ever!) so that you can see - and just so you know, this happened at the end of EVERY night, not just the last one.

Fireworks

Celebratory steak!

Stuffed with too much good food: I'm not sure I have mentioned the food here yet. It's so nice here, partly because most things (especially fruit and vegetables) are so much fresher here than in the UK. I have on the whole been eating so much healthier here than at home too because of that, mainly eating things like salads, pasta and cous cous. Having said that, there has been the odd French pastry and things. And the other night, we went out to celebrate one of the other girls in the groups' graduation with possibly the best steak I have ever had in my life. I admit it was expensive and it doesn't look that great from the photo I put up, but it was so worth it! I had a food baby for ages!

Arrow-heads from the Musee' Aquitaine

As well as that, I have found a good park complete with petting zoo called 'Parc de Bordelais' and went to the Musee' Aquitaine in the city centre, which shows the history of Bordeaux and the region of Aquitaine from the prehistoric age, and which was really interesting. I have the last week of my language course as well as my first meeting at the Maison Ecocitoyenne next week, so I will be starting work soon. I'm really excited about it, but really nervous at the same time, it being the first time I've ever worked in France and all.
Here's hoping I will be kept just as busy
Charlotte