Bordeaux is seemingly synonymous with wine, but I found a city with so much to offer beyond le vin.
The first port stop on our Anthem of the Seas 7-night cruise brings us to the city of La Rochelle, which is a couple hours drive from Bordeaux.
One of the conundrums of this particular itinerary is to settle for the small city experience or take the time to see a major draw.
Since it's my first time in France and I'm not sure the next time I'll be able to visit here, it made sense to me to sign up for the journey to Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is a little more than a 2 hour bus ride from where cruise ships dock in La Rochelle. When you have an extreme distance like that, booking a shore excursion through the cruise line is the only logical option to avoid being left behind because of a travel delay.
Read more: Why booking my cruise shore excursions in Europe with the cruise line was the best decision
Our tour began at 8am and met at the Royal Theater. Minutes after Anthem was cleared by the local authorities, our tour was the first to be called to go.
I signed up for the "Bordeaux On Your Own" tour, which provides bus transportation back and forth and that's it.
The bus is your typical coach bus with plenty of air conditioning and a bathroom in the back. I liked there were USB plugs at each set of seats, although the legroom was very minimal.
We were dropped off at the Allées de Tourny right in the middle of Bordeaux. We were told we'd have a little more than 3 hours to explore on our own, and to meet back at a designated time. C'est ca et au reviour!
I specifically booked this tour because I want to explore the city on my own, as I see fit.
Bordeaux is well known for its wine culture, but wine wasn't my main draw. I like wine, but I'm not a "wine person". However, I warmed up to the wine scene in the city quite quickly.
Wine or not, the first thing I wanted was a really good French bakery and cafe. It was still morning, and I had this overwhelming desire to try it.
One of the best things about Europe is how much there is to see. As soon as I left the bus, I ran right into Basilique Saint-Michel, which is a Gothic church in the center of the city.
On the bus ride over I researched some places to go, and found a coffee shop and boulangerie across the street from each other that were highly recommended.
The Sip Coffee Bar was my first stop, and I had a cup of iced coffee that was served in a beaker. Cute idea, and the coffee was so much better than what I could get at home.
I then walked across the street to Boulangerie Jocteur, and I was met with an overwhelming choices of breads, pastries, croissants, and more.
It was one of those places I wish I could bring home a box of goodies, but I also did not want to fill up immediately and ruin my appetite for the rest of the day.
I went with a croissant and baguette. Basic, sure, but I felt I wanted to start with the hits, and the food did not disappoint. It probably ruined croissants for the rest of my life back home.
With my belly full, I wanted to do some exploring. The Old Town area of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Perhaps the most iconic landmark is Porte Cailhau, which was a gate built to protect the city in 1496. I only walked by the port, but visitors can also climb to the top of the 35-meter tower for unobstructed views of the city.
I then caught sight of the Garonne river, which has a beautiful walkway along the left bank. It's the kind of waterfront walk where you not only get a great view, but you can see so many sights along the way.
It helped the temperature outside was so comfortable, with highs in the upper 80s and no humidity. As someone that lives in Florida, it's always so refreshing when you can spend time outdoors in the summer and not sweat profusely to the point of hating it.
The "Miroir d'Eau" (water mirror) was a fun stop that's across from the Place de la Bourse monument. It alternates a mirror effect and artificial misting in an extraordinary way.
By now my mind was telling me my readers would hate on me if I went to Bordeaux and didn't have any wine, so I decided to give it a try.
I wandered the streets of Bordeaux for a bit to find a wine bar. There are plenty of bistros and cafes, but I didn't want to go to a cafe that had a limited selection.
I eventually ran across Coumé Vaï, which serves wine by the bottle and glass, along with cheese and charcuterie options.
I'm not a wine expert at all, so I asked the woman working behind the counter to recommend a couple of wines to try that were from the region.
She picked out two, and I give it a try.
I really liked the flavor of both, with the first being quite fruity and the second extremely dry.
If I had more time in Bordeaux, I could see myself enjoying a couple of glasses in the evening to wind down the day.
For lunch, I wasn't sure where to eat because there were so many delicious restaurants. You could not go down a street without running into one or two restaurants that looked really good. I wished I'd had time to try more places.
This may sound crazy, but I went with an Italian restaurant for lunch. Being in Europe, the food is good beyond the traditional foods of the host country, and in my research, I found a few intriguing Italian restaurants. As a pizza snob at home, I was drawn immediately to give it a try.
I ended up at Le Murano, which has a large outdoor terrace. Eating outside at a small table feels so French, even if it's Italian food.
I ordered a margarita pizza, and it was exactly what I wanted. Great food I can't get at home, with unrivaled scenery.
I would have loved to have more time to go shopping and venture further south. There are many locally-owned boutiques that sell just about everything.
I was mostly in the Saint-Michel "quartier" of Bordeaux, and it's a very cosmopolitan neighborhood along with its rich history.
I especially enjoyed exploring Bordeaux and simply walking to see what's around the next corner. The food scene, charming history, and independent shops really made Bordeaux stand out beyond the wine it's well-known for.
Certainly wine enthusiasts will love it, but non-drinkers can find lots to see too.
My visit gave me a new taste for all there is to discover in the famous wine region. I would love to come back and spend more time here. This is, after all, one of the best reasons to cruise because it gives you a taste of what the world has to offer, and you can always come back for more.
