37. Day (13.9.22)

I reluctantly left my grandmother's comfortable house again. After a hearty breakfast, we went to the train station in Lauterbourg and said goodbye. First, we went back to Strasbourg. This time, I took more time to explore the formerly German city and was amazed by the blending of cultures. The ancient half-timbered houses hosting French bakeries. The huge cathedral that almost casts its shadow over the whole city. And the magnificent mansions reflected in the Ill river. I walked across the island that makes up the city center, to the other side of the river to the Place de la Republique and back. Then, in the early afternoon, I took the train that was supposed to take me to Bordeaux via Paris.

In the late afternoon, I arrived in Bordeaux and walked into the southern French city on the Garonne. The southern architecture, defined by sandstone, and the warm air uplifted my spirits. I walked past triumphal arches into the bustling shopping streets. Bicyclists on old Peugeot bikes, tourists, and locals crowded the cobblestone. The chairs in front of the bars were full, and plenty of wine was being consumed. After a short walk, I sat by the Garonne, which flowed in the opposite direction due to the Atlantic tide, and I read.

In the evening, I met up with my host in Bordeaux. I know Leonie from my student café in Berlin, and she is currently studying abroad in the wine city. I left my backpack with her and we went back into the city. We bought a bottle of red wine from a supermarket and sat down on one of the shopping streets to drink it. Later, we relaxed in a comfortable bar and chatted over a beer. We also passed a series of street musicians giving a concert on brass instruments. Finally, on our way home, we met some of Leonie's friends and had a falafel together before going to sleep.