Alison and Alison and the art of re-tyrement

Cycling from London to Spain

Day 19 Angouleme to Bordeaux and back to Angouleme.

11.1 miles walking

Up before 7am and in Bordeaux by 9.00am. We took great delight in confounding Christophe by getting to Bordeaux well before the projected arrival time. It is a doddle by train.

Today I had an appointment with the British Consulate in Bordeaux to collect my emergency travel document. What to wear to a Consulate when you have just one spare change of clothing? Tricky.

Nothing is simple. The ceiling in the Consulate has collapsed, the building evacuated and I was instructed to go to the Chamber of Commerce to collect my documents.

The security guard and reception assistant at the Chamber of Commerce denied any knowledge of any appointments and told me I had to go to the Consulate. We remonstrated in Franglais, the receptionist was adamant.

A female assistant took pity on us and told us to take a seat. Eventually someone from the Consulate turned up with my document.

It was strangely liberating not having a passport. Nothing to lose. Starting to feel a little anxious now.

Strolled along to visit the Cathedral. But this is France and it is closed for two hours for lunch.

Instead we did what we do best and visited a bike shop and Decathlon.

A stroll in the sunshine through the streets of Bordeaux.

Back in Angouleme and a visit to the Cathedral, another stamp in our passport and a beer in the square.

Now all we have to do tomorrow is to find the bike shop where we left our bikes yesterday. That shouldn’t be a problem, should it?

alisonmiddleditch

3 responses to “Day 19 Angouleme to Bordeaux and back to Angouleme.”

  1. chrisincarshalton avatar
    chrisincarshalton

    We are SO relieved that you are now legal again Alison! We have just realised that one unexpected side-effect for us of your trip so far is that we no longer feel that we live in Europe’s most inefficient outpost. They may have great wine and wonderful cheese but the French seemed to be even more inefficient in the world of bureacracy

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  2. chrisincarshalton avatar
    chrisincarshalton

    …. But they do a better extensive lunch break! And lovely churches!!! Good luck with finding those bikes tomorrow. Ps we just had supper by the Thames with Gabriella and Thomas who send their love to you both and are also so enjoying your trip!

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  3. Lynn buckingham avatar
    Lynn buckingham

    What to wear? Well if I remember rightly they have some very nice shops in Bordeau so maybe an excuse to buy a new little top! Maybe everyone trying to renew their passport in the uk should go down your route. Certainly quicker. Anyway glad to know we can have you back.

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