Driving for the better part of a day along motorways across a large chunk of France doesn't really prepare you for the different world you encounter when you turn off the national road in the late afternoon near Bordeaux
into the village of Bouliac in the south west corner of France, the Aquitaine
for the warmth and colours of the south
and slow village life
and slow village life
Surrounded by vineyards - the Aquitaine is really a giant vineyard, home to the wines of Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint Emilion, Bergerac ...
and here in Bouliac, Le St James is so well worth a visit, if only for a brief lounge at the pool-in-the-vineyards, or a drink or dinner on the terrace
Le St James was designed by none other than Jean Nouvel (I've posted on his amazing buildings here, here and here; and see also here for his latest NewYork adventure) to draw the gorgeous natural surroundings in.
At sunset there were views over vineyards and the Garonne river, with Bordeaux in the distance
Bouliac, France June 2015
day 1, Iberian road trip
day 1, Iberian road trip