Libourne

Yesterday we left from this location to tour Sante-Emilion and today we see Libourne itself.  We are now directly at the confluence of the Dordogne and its estuary Isle.  The small town seems picturesque and we have a walking tour this morning of the nearby sites.  This town is a bastide city meaning it has  a wall.  Remnants remain including one gate, Porte du Grand Port.  The town was sweet and after the tour we walked for a little while through the market and the small museum at the city hall.  It was quite surprising!

 The old town hall had a wonder three room museum on the top floor.  

Not usually open on Tuesdays because of the market.  But opened up especially for us.

 There was a good story about this painting.  I believe it was that it shows 

Cardinal Richelieu to the left on the steps.  He definitely was not there at all.  

But he commissioned the work and so is present after the fact!

 I liked this one and had the guide translate the description for me.  It is the artist's wife at the typewriter.  A funny little machine.  It is called The Secretary.

 Never expected to see a rodin here hidden away on the top floor of a tiny museum in a small town.

A folded paper model of the town was tucked away under the 

pretty stained glass window in a hallway.

The town is an English city.  Remember Eleanor of Aquitaine?  This area  has  a very mixed up heritage.  I am not going to give you a history lesson but listening to the guides sure brought back memories of high school history class!  As was typical in the 13th century, the nobleman was was required to defend and colonize the countryside he was given as his domain.  Libourne still has remnants of its original walls.  There is the typical Gothic church but the stone spire is 232 feet high and can be seen easily by those sailing past. The surviving clock tower is built in such a way that the Duc's forces could drop stones, oil, and other things on the invading armies.

 Love the red door.  A large red double door is to left as the main entrance.

 Easter flowers still bedeck the interior.

 I love these old churches where it looks like the children sit facing the parents.  

No those are the kneelers!

 Check out the distinctive Gothic ceiling.

 St. Theresa, the Little Flower, was my Mother's favorite!

 This view in the side chapel definitely caught my eye as we were leaving!  

Very moving.  Accident?  Maybe or intentional with the lighting.

 It can't be a church in France if there is a reminder of Jeanne d'Arc!

 

The often forgotten St. Joseph.

 

 Here is where the children actually can sit at the back of the church and color or read.  

That is a real break for parents.

The Market Square was in full swing.  Lots of interesting things for sale.  The most surprising to me was rolls and rolls of oil cloth!  Also a corner where you could buy an old chair and select the new fabric for the seat.  Wander around the market and pick it up on the way back home!

 These are Saint Peter fish.  They bear the thumbprint of the Great Fisherman!

 The old town well is a meeting place and the centerpiece of the square.

As the city spread outside the walls it became a hub for wine shipment.  In 1851 the railroad expanded the opportunities that the city already enjoyed by being on the river so close to the Atlantic Ocean.  No surprise the other big businesses supported wine shipment.  These were storehouses and coopers to build the barrels.  Coopers needed to be especially skilled to construct them to be leak proof and flavorsome!  Wine storage and shipping continue to be key to this city's survival.

 A cactus garden in the sun.

 A dance studio or gym like in any small town anywhere.

Elva and I did not opt for the very expensive Chateau visit with lunch shore excursion but instead enjoyed a beautiful afternoon slowly making our way closer to the sea.  We also did not sign up for the optional Truffle Hunt with Luncheon.  Sounded good but all the excursions on this leg of our trip are not of enough interest to us to justify the exceptionally high prices. With most travelers going ashore we situated ourselves in the cushioned wooded rockers at the bow and floated comfortably through the country side.  The wide river made for interesting navigation.  The Captain zig-zagged his way to Bourg.  As we came closer to the ocean we got the beautiful wool blankets from the stowage ourselves.  Now we know where they are!  The sun was bright.  the scenery was peaceful. The few guests sailing with us carried on lively conversations that we only eavesdropped on!  One man had out his binoculars and was identifying the birds.  Tessa would question them with her exceptional knowledge of all things wildlife. Safe within our own thoughts and dreams we had the best afternoon of the trip!

 I will be glad to take this one, please.

All along the river were tiny fishing huts on stilts above the water.  Remember the tidal aspect of the ebb and flow.  The truth is often they were just 'man cave' substitutes for the guys to hang out together.  There was some serious fishing going on when we would see men in a row boat haul up one of these unique nets.

When we arrived dockside it was perfectly timed to welcome back those who traveled by bus after their luncheons - three busloads!  Four is a full ship!  The hustle and bustle, such as it is on a small ship, began again.  Again Program Director Feliz had 'bad news.'  We will stay docked tomorrow and not be sailing to Blaye after lunch. The dock at our next town was damaged and at the bottom of the river.  So we would be traveling by bus to Blaye, our next stop.  We were even happier that we enjoyed a day aboard today!  Dinner was delightful.  Music was the entertainment after dinner.