Scenic Cruise - Day 7 Bordeaux

 Cruise Day 7  Tuesday - Bordeaux

In the morning there was the choice of three tours: shopping with the chef followed by a Culinaire Class. A bike tour of Bordeaux or a coach and guided walking tour of Bordeaux – there was also a ‘gentle’ walkers option. We went on the walking tour but bailed out when the group was to enter a cathedral.

Lunch - Fish & Chips

We walked back to the ship, along the shopping street which ended at the Intercontinental Bordeaux Grand Hotel. Here we joined the gentle walkers tour with a guide we’d had before who was a wine expert. He was taking the group to the nearby wine school where they could use the toilets for free, or taste and buy wine and snacks. I’d been there before but he explained symbolism on the large illuminated glass panels inside which added a whole new layer.

Back at the ship there was a tasting of fresh oysters brought from the sea at Arcachon. We had an early dinner at 17:45 because there was a tour to the Bassins de Lumiere. It was a short coach ride to the old submarine pens. The massive concrete walls and roof resisted allied bombing and it was not possible to demolish it after the war. Built by Nazi occupiers between 1941-43 the massive ugly structure housed U-Boats of the German and Italian Navies, giving them access to the Gironde and out into the Atlantic. As it was impossible to demolish, it has been repurposed as an arts venue.

Currently there are light shows. Scenic had an exclusive evening for us. After entering we were given a glass of fizz and invited to sit in raised concrete steps facing the water of one of the pens – tip, sit on the wooden seating parts. The show started in total darkness, then as the theme from the TV/movie ‘Das Boot’ blared out, the blackness in front of us opened as doors parted and the prow of a submarine came towards us. Unfortunately that was the end of any reference to the reason the structure was built. The works of two artist’s paintings of Venice were projected covering walls and floors. After perhaps 20 minutes we were told that there were different shows in other pens and at least half the people got up and wandered about the pens.

Light Show

Scenic Diamond remained in Bordeaux overnight.

 To go to next part click here