avoision.com 2026-07-06T01:46:30Z https://avoision.com/feed/atom WordPress avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Porto, Day 3: Tour of Duoro Valley, Wine Tasting at Quinta dos Castelares, Lunch at Vista D’ouro, Duoro River Cruise, Port Tasting at Quinta de Santa Eufemia, Livraria Lello, Frozen Pizza and Wine for Dinner]]> https://avoision.com/?p=530250 2026-07-06T01:46:30Z 2026-06-12T14:00:00Z Cooltour Oporto. ]]> Big day today – we had an early wake up (shower, breakfast, and had to walk about 10-15 minutes to get picked up at 8:30 AM). We’re going on a day-long tour of the Douro Valley via Cooltour Oporto.

A few days prior, we got a notification that one of their vehicles was out of service… and they were trying to see about rescheduling. Unfortunately, today was the only day we could do the tour… so they accommodated us and were able to find us a spot with another group.

We walked a bit, and found our pick-up spot (sort of). It was a hotel location, but we were unable to find the front door. After a brief bit of frantic texting with my contact from the tour company (who was also texting with the driver)… we met up.

Liz and I hopped into a van, joining 5 other folks. We then started the 1.5 hour drive, from Porto to the Duoro Valley.


Our first stop: Quinta dos Castelares. After a brief intro to the family and business, we got to one of our first tastings.


After a brief tour inside, we gathered out in the back… and were presented with another tasting.


This was interesting, as we were pairing some of the wines with honey.

Of note, Quinta dos Castelares is an organic producer, and there’s a tremendous amount of effort (and cost) that goes into being certified organic.

One of the main things I recall was that because bees can carry chemicals or pesticides when pollinating, an organic vineyard needs to be located at least 4 kilometers away from another vineyard that does choose to use chemicals/pesticides.


I’m not a fan of honey, but that said – this was pretty good.

Personal note: I used to get honey mixed with warm water, when I was sick as a kid. It helped with sore throats, and was a good home remedy. But for whatever reason (thanks Pavlov), I associate the taste of honey with illness.

I think honey is great, and I know people love it. But it’s not for me.


A view of the property.


As a bonus, we were treated to a small tasting of Port.


One of the interesting things for Quinta dos Castelares is that they ship directly to customers. And for us to purchase any wines from them, we needed to place our orders today.

They don’t take orders online, and you need to be already part of their list if you want their wines. A very different and unique setup.

While some of the others on the tour were looking to make purchases, Liz and I slipped out and went back to some of the areas at the start of the tour. Neither of us had taken photos much, so we got a chance to walk around a bit on our own.


Several of the wines we sampled today.


Interesting inscriptions on the doorway here. I didn’t spot this on the tour, and never got to ask what these represented.


Liz, in the storage area. As we were finishing up, a new group/tour was just starting… and we politely made our exit.


After our tasting, we drove a ways… and stopped off at a small town. I don’t recall where, exactly this was. But there was a town square/fountain nearby.

After a lot of driving, we paused briefly to stretch our legs.


One of the homes nearby. I believe that the material here is schist, which is very common in the area.


Even out here, steep inclines.


A bit later, we arrived at Vista D’ouro, for our lunch.


This photo doesn’t really do justice to the meal. We had a lovely soup + salad as a starter, a lot of sausages, as well as codfish. We also got our choice of desserts, and of course had plenty of wine with the meal as well. And also got a small bit of Port, as an after dinner drink.


Our next step: a boat tour on the Douro river itself. As we drove down to meet the water, I was in awe just looking out of the window.

The view was absolutely breathtaking. If I were driving, I’d be stopping every 5 minutes to just gaze at all the vineyards and quintas.


About to board the boat.


We were among the last to arrive, so we ended up getting seats in the back. A plus: we were covered from the sun; a minus: we were looking at everything through a window.

At various points on the tour, Liz and I would walk to the front of the boat and took some photos.


The tour was really calm and quiet – no narrator, just us gently going out and back along the river.


Amazed to see how these vineyards use all the available space, even along uneven hillsides.


As if it couldn’t get any more scenic, we passed by a bridge for a local train.


While I enjoyed being on the water as a change of pace, looking back… I actually preferred the views we had from the tour van.


Our next stop: Quinta de Santa Eufemia. This is a small mural, depicting the room we’re in (and the process of crushing the grapes by hand [er, feet]).


The mixing area, a combination of old and new.


Upstairs, there was a display room with all the various archaeological finds that were unearthed on the property over the years.


Some very old finds. I think these date back to the second or third century, AD.


Nearby, some incredibly large casks in the storage area.


We walked outside to a newly created tasting/viewing area, which had an incredible view of the property.


Difficult to describe just how gorgeous this was.


Most of the photos taken by us rarely feature us together (I’m usually the one behind the camera/phone).

While we were taking in the view, one of our tour companions offered to take a photo of us together.


Our lovely port tasting.

After relaxing here for a while, we returned to the van and made our way back to Porto. Our guide was kind enough to drop folks back at their respective hotels… and so Liz and I hung out, as we were the last to be dropped off.


Despite the full day, we opted to venture out a bit more and ended up outside of Livraria Lello. The author J. K. Rowling lived and taught English in Porto in the 1990’s, and this bookstore is considered an inspiration for Hogwarts (from the Harry Potter novels).

There was a line, and you had to buy tickets to enter. We were able to stand in line, and as we waited for the next entrance time to begin… I was able to quickly purchase our tickets on the spot.


It’s an incredible interior. And was swarmed with people, as you can imagine. Phones everyone, selfies at every turn. And a magical staircase, at the center of it all.


Looking down onto the first floor, and the back half of the bookstore.


On the second floor, equally crowded.


A view of the second floor, from the back.


A random snapshot of one of the small side streets, near our apartment.

Tonight, we found a nearby grocery store (more like a minimart)… and were able to get some frozen pizza. After a long day out and about, we decided staying in would be easier… and got some provisions for our evening.

I have to say – tonight’s relaxing was quite nice. So much of our trip so far has been going from place to place, that it was nice to just sit and be lazy a bit.

We ended up using the oven in the apartment, and made two small frozen pizzas for dinner. And then we used the Amazon Prime account from a prior tenant, and watched Batman (the Robert Pattison version).

Did I mention we got a nice bottle of wine from Quinta de Santa Eufemia? And it paired nicely with our frozen pizza.

It was honestly just so relaxing to be on the couch, after a full day… pizza, wine, and a lot of motionlessness.

Related:
Porto, Day 1: Vintage Finds at Warehouse Saint Germain, Travel from Bordeaux, Arriving in Porto, Sunset Walk, Drinks at Base
Porto, Day 2: Breakfast at Floresta Cafe, Walking Across the Ponte Luiz I Bridge, Tour and Tasting at Taylor’s Port Lodge, Unexpected Liminal Space, Riding the Gaia Cable Car, Dinner at Tapabento.

]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Porto, Day 2: Breakfast at Floresta Cafe, Walking Across the Ponte Luiz I Bridge, Tour and Tasting at Taylor’s Port Lodge, Unexpected Liminal Space, Riding the Gaia Cable Car, Dinner at Tapabento.]]> https://avoision.com/?p=529689 2026-07-03T01:10:17Z 2026-06-11T14:00:00Z Our first breakfast in Porto, at Floresta Cafe – a spot very close to our apartment. This was late morning, and there were already people waiting outside the entrance… so we got added to the queue. Surprisingly, despite how busy it looked, we were told about 15 minutes. Before we knew it, we were taken to the back, to a small table for two. The breakfast was amazing – portions were huge, and there was a small yogurt cup that came with the meal (with fruit, honey, granola, pomegranate). It was delicious.
A brief stop inside São Bento station.
Joining the tourists, to admire the tile walls.
Once again, we found a Piña Colada stand… and thought of Audrey.
Our day today was fairly relaxed – just a tour in the late afternoon at Taylor’s Port Lodge. We had a slow walk across the Ponte Luiz I bridge. This is right before we hit the bridge, looking out over the houses and river. I’m… not quite sure why I had this on the itinerary. We walked across the top of the bridge, and for someone who doesn’t like hikes… I didn’t realize this was a bad, bad idea. I mostly just kept moving and tried not to stop. There are some photos from the walk back, but I wasn’t really able to take any. It was a gorgeous view though. In theory.
Across the river, we got some bottled water and found a shaded area to rest (the day, like all the subsequent days, was quite hot). Liz, interviewing one of the locals.
As we were sitting, we could hear the distant yelling of the construction workers, who were out on the scaffolding at a nearby church.
We had a long, winding path down from the bridge, to the area where all the port distilleries were located. En route, we spotted a photographer, taking some wedding photos.
Looking back across all the rooftops.
This was on Liz’s itinerary. Because of course it was. The sculpture is built into the side of the building, and there were lots of folks nearby taking photos.
One of the small side streets we had to walk up. Impossibly narrow, and somehow both pedestrians and vehicles navigated the same space. As we were walking up, we’d listen for the sound of tires… and scrambled to find a spot where we could move out of the way of the oncoming vehicles.
On the self-guided tour at Taylor’s Port Lodge.
Some of the many barrels in the warehouse.
With the tour, we also got a small tasting. I’m not a big fan of Port, but I do have to say… it grew on me, the longer we were in Portugal.
On our way out, we were debating how to return to the bridge. Liz spotted this odd path, but I was a little hesitant to go. As we were talking, another couple walked by and told us this was the way they came in. We followed them in, and had a bit of an adventure.
After walking past some doors, we entered into this vast, empty, impossible surreal liminal space. It was unclear of this was actually a public area, that just happened to be closed down. Or not yet open? It was super weird. But air conditioned, and felt amazing. Creepy and amazing.
Down one of the random corridors, a small fountain area. Again – just a weird mixture of old and new.
We eventually found our way back up to the street. And exited out near this town square area.
On our way back to the bridge, we opted to take the Gaia Cable Car. Again, I was a little concerned given my fear of heights. But it ended up being pretty ok.
It was fun just to watch these cars coming and going.
In our car, on the way to the bridge.
Unfortunate reflections, but it was a great view.
Heading towards our drop-off. Interesting thing – there were some employees nearby, but we more or less fended for ourselves getting on/off the thing.
At the top of the bridge, making our way back. Note the tracks in the middle, as there are trams that also move along the middle of the bridge.
We were on one of several bridges that crossed the Douro river.
Looking out over some of the houses, we spotted this amazing rail car thing (on the left). I guess that’s one way to avoid the stairs.
For dinner, that was a fun excursion. I let Claude AI do a lot of the itinerary suggestions, and for dinner we had reservations at Tapabento. The thing was – the restaurant was situated inside a spot we had visited earlier in the day – São Bento. On hearing this, Liz asked “We’re going to dinner at a train station?” Getting in was tricky, as the map instructions we had led us down a road that was semi-closed, under construction. We saw a few workers taking a cigarette break, but couldn’t find a door to actually go into the restaurant. Eventually, we made our way back to the main station entrance. On walking by the train tracks, we found the entrance to the restaurant. Inside, it was packed and bustling. Super glad we got reservations, as we were seated fairly quickly (a couple who arrived at the same time as us ended up waiting for around 30+ minutes, without reservations). I regret not taking any photos – I think we were both just tired from a long day of walking and exploring. The meal was delicious, and our server was great (I said as much, to the main manager on the floor). My main regret is that we didn’t have enough time to come back for a second meal. Related: Porto, Day 1: Vintage Finds at Warehouse Saint Germain, Travel from Bordeaux, Arriving in Porto, Sunset Walk, Drinks at Base]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Porto, Day 1: Vintage Finds at Warehouse Saint Germain, Travel from Bordeaux, Arriving in Porto, Sunset Walk, Drinks at Base]]> https://avoision.com/?p=528893 2026-07-01T00:53:04Z 2026-06-10T14:00:00Z Liz found Entrepôt Saint-Germain, a great vintage consignment warehouse. I wasn't sure what to expect walking in, but it was a delightful assortment of all manner of wonder.]]> Liz and I had another leg of our vacation yet to start – we were also headed to Bordeaux to catch a flight to Portugal. My aim was to drop off the car early enough so we wouldn’t get charged for an extra day. But this meant we’d be sitting at the airport for several hours (our flight wasn’t until the late afternoon). We ended up deciding to keep the car a bit longer, and found a vintage shop to visit in Bordeaux.
Outside the entrance to Entrepôt Saint-Germain.
Liz found Entrepôt Saint-Germain, a great vintage consignment warehouse. I wasn’t sure what to expect walking in, but it was a delightful assortment of all manner of wonder.
Both Liz and I remembered this thing, but weren’t sure what it was, exactly. I was convinced it was a Weebles tree house, but as it turns out it’s a Tiny Tots Family Tree House.
A fantastic Back to the Future poster (in French of course).
I don’t know what this is, but it was fantastic.
So much to look at, and this was still just the first room I walked into.
A small back room, with an odd assortment of pieces.
This was… strange to see. And I’m not certain, but it appeared to be a small series of sketches by Picasso.
In a nearby display case, what looks very much like the control panel for the DeLorean time machine.
Past the main entry area, you walk down a small hallway and the rest of the space opens up.
A Minitel 1, which I’d never seen before but looked absolutely fascinating. Googling later, this thing pre-dated the Internet, and was part of the Minitel videotex online service. Despite me not having a land line, and despite the fact that this was configured for a French phone outlet from the 1970’s, and despite the fact that I had zero extra room in my luggage… I was very tempted to purchase this guy.
I vaguely recall games of this nature, in arcades long ago. A ball would be moved about using small puffs of air.
An incredible display area – what looked like actual vintage storefronts.
Towards the back, the further you went… the more eccentric the pieces were.
This room was like a surrealist nightmare: dentistry and taxidermy, simultaneously.
A little fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Not sure what this was, but it was an impressive sculpture. The closer I looked, the more amazed I became.
Detail view.
Not sure what this was, but I was mesmerized by it. Part of me thought it was a portable fuse box, another part of me thought it was a lie detector of some kind.
A closer look. Anyone have any idea what this is? I tried looking it up online, but no luck at all.
Ok – what little I could find leads me to think that this is actually from Parisian beauty brand Bova Star Paris. I’m not exactly sure what it is, per se – but I think it’s used for hair in some kind of way. Amazingly, very little online about this. I can barely find anything at all for Bova Star Paris.
Again, the further back – the more amazing the sculptures.
From the back rooms, looking to the entrance.
A player piano.
A small, and intricately organized collection of construction toys.
After a quick stop for coffee and lunch, we made our way back to the Bordeaux airport. A bit of a snafu on our way back, as the gas station wasn’t taking my credit card… so we lost time there. Ended up eating the cost of letting the rental agency refuel, since we were running late. Then, on getting back to the car rental dropoff… we ended up circling the airport about three times. This, despite me taking a photo of the instructions for how to find the dropoff/return lot. Here, we’re waiting in line for our plane ride from Bordeaux to Porto, Portugal.
Boarding a plane on the tarmac is always a little unnerving to me. I’m mostly used to walking from the terminal, directly to the plane. Liz and I realized that our tickets were for the back half of the plane, and indicated that we board towards the rear. We spotted a second set of stairs, and basically just walked past everyone waiting to get back here.
As an American, I have trouble with brands I don’t recognize. Particularly airlines. This was the cheapest flight I could find, and it was ultimately fine – no issues. But the term “easyJet” just doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in me. I’m a worrier, so I lean towards company names like “ThoroughlyTested Airlines” or “NeverFall Air” I guess.
At the Porto airport, with a huge throng of people waiting to go through the “Nothing to Declare” line at Customs. It was a free for all. I was half-considering going into the “Goods to Declare” line just to see if it would be faster.
A quick cab ride later (tip: in Portugal, using the Bolt app is oftentimes a lot cheaper than Uber)… we were in our apartment. The streets are fairly narrow, and where we were staying… cars were not permitted. So we had a slight walk (downhill, thankfully) with our luggage.
The bedroom, with lots of closet space. And a sliding partition wall that closed off this room from the rest of the apartment.
Kitchen area, with microwave, stovetop, and oven. Along with a fridge/freezer.
Perfect sized bathroom, off the kitchen/dining area.
Opening up our windows briefly (it was quite hot) to take a look outside.
The view from our bedroom.
We stayed on Rua das Flores in Porto, a very lively and bustling street with all manner of shops and restaurants. Lots of tourists always walking about. Our apartment entrance was just off this street, but we were about 4 stories up. While there was a lot of activity, we barely heard much noise at all.
Post dinner, we shopped around a little. Liz, contemplating canned sardines.
While we were both tempted, our shared allergy to shellfish gave us pause. The last thing I wanted was to try some seafood, and then spend the rest of the trip sick. Funny I should mention this concern because… well, you’ll see eventually.
Walking around afterwards. Did I mention the steep inclines in Porto?
More walking around.
While I had a lot of things on the itinerary, we cherry picked things here and there. Tonight, we ended up walking to Base for a late night drink. Note: most folks eat quite late in Portugal. If you’re eating at 7PM, you’ll likely be dining with tourists. Most dinners begin around 8PM or later. The sunset also ends up being quite late (though I’m not sure if this was just the summer, or if it’s always like this). But it would be light out until around 9PM or later. On finding Base, we made a note to come back after looking for a good sunset spot.
The spot listed (a recommendation from Claude AI) ended up being locked off to the public. There was a small fence that could be hopped, but that felt a bit much. From the fence, here’s the area. I can see why it was a favorite spot to see the city.
Love.
Back at Base, with some drinks. The great thing about this bar is that it’s a rooftop bar, but with a huge area of grass and trees. At various areas, there were small tables and cushions set up. I was amazed that it was not packed with people, but felt lucky to find a spot away from the crowds.
Photo of me, working on a Piña Colada. This was a drink that Audrey wanted to try out while we were in France (and she was of legal drinking age)… but never got a chance to. Of course, I sent this photo to her. For the remainder of our time in Portugal, there were Piña Colada stands all over the place.
It really was a lovely spot, and got better the more the night came on.
One more photo. A lovely, relaxing end to a busy travel day. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières Bordeaux, Day 4: Morning Market in Sarlat, Kayaks and Castles Along the Dordogne River Bordeaux, Day 5: Exploring Château de Lescours, Wine Tasting at Château de Pressac, and a Late Evening Stroll Bordeaux, Day 6: Behind the Scenes at Château de Lescours, Church Cemetery, Château Franc Mayne, Exploring Saint-Émilion, Drinking Wine with Pierre Bordeaux, Day 7: Walking the Grounds at Château de Lescours, Final Dinner at Chai Pascal]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 7: Walking the Grounds at Château de Lescours, Final Dinner at Chai Pascal]]> https://avoision.com/?p=526792 2026-06-25T01:30:51Z 2026-06-09T14:00:00Z Liz spent some time relaxing and reading, and I ended up going for a walk around the property. With, I might add, a glass of wine from the vineyard (it seemed appropriate). While I walked around a few days ago with Liz and Kirt, today I was just on my own. I moved quite slowly, trying to just be present and marvel at how amazing everything was. No agenda, no rush, just… walking and observing.
A small area along the side of the main building.
On the wall, an old and faded mural. It was half-hidden by the flowers and foliage, but still exuded a great deal of joy. When I asked Pierre about it later, he mentioned that it was a portrait of all of the workers, from some years back.
The mural was not visible from far away. You really had to be up close to even know it was there. This felt like a small secret that only I discovered.
One thing I’ve discovered, with my time at Chateau de Lescours: I really need more statues in my front and back yard. I’ve really been missing out,.
A small tunnel, which I can only guess may lead to a rabbit warren (I spotted one or two rabbits over the last week).
Every once in a while, I’d catch a glimpse of a tractor going down one of the rows. I stood and watched a while, as it was clearing some of the grass from below. At one point, I had a chance to walk into the row to view the tractor from behind – a good, closeup view of what the process was like. But standing there, as much as I wanted to… that idea felt intrusive. It felt like me being a gawking tourist, while someone was hard at work. As interested as I was, I contented myself to just watch from afar. And then continued about my walk.
More than just alligators in the moat. Hard to believe it was deeper than this, in the past.
On the far side of the property, where some chickens were freely roaming.
A nearby enclosure, with an assortment of various poultry.
Not every day you see a turkey on a swingset.
Looking back at the main buildings.
Love is in the air.
For dinner, we all trekked out to Saint-Émilion for our final group dinner together. We were scrambling a bit earlier in the day to find a place, and ended up with a reservation at Chai Pascal. They were able to take our reservation for 10, but we had to go with two tables of 5. L to R it’s Jackson, Paige, Audrey, and Liz.
Liz and Audrey.
Walking back to the car. After dinner, everyone was decompressing and hanging out in the living room. We played a few rounds of Quiplash again, but ended up spending most of our time playing a game Jackson suggested: “Imposter.” It’s a bit like Werewolf or Mafia, where one person is not part of the overall group… and the game hinges on the imposter pretending, and the others figuring out who the imposter is. Jackson had an iPhone app that made the game pretty easy to set up. Everyone saw a secret word, but one person was not shown the word (and was just shown the word “Imposter”). Everyone then went around and stated one word that matched the secret word. And from there, everyone had to guess who knew the word and who didn’t (and was the imposter). I was a bit skeptical of the game, but it got quite boisterous and fun. Each game was quick, and was easy to set up and start. Another fun game nigiht, with a lot of noise and laughing and yelling. As much as I loved the location, the wine, and the vineyard… these loud moments with family were among my favorite of our trip. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières Bordeaux, Day 4: Morning Market in Sarlat, Kayaks and Castles Along the Dordogne River Bordeaux, Day 5: Exploring Château de Lescours, Wine Tasting at Château de Pressac, and a Late Evening Stroll Bordeaux, Day 6: Behind the Scenes at Château de Lescours, Church Cemetery, Château Franc Mayne, Exploring Saint-Émilion, Drinking Wine with Pierre]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 6: Behind the Scenes at Château de Lescours, Church Cemetery, Château Franc Mayne, Exploring Saint-Émilion, Drinking Wine with Pierre]]> https://avoision.com/?p=526543 2026-06-25T00:35:46Z 2026-06-08T14:00:00Z Château de Lescours. We ended up having the tasting back at our residence, along with a charcuterie boards and three different wines. Easiest and most relaxing tour by far, and a great start to the day.]]> Started our morning with a tour/tasting of the winery where we’re staying: Château de Lescours. We ended up having the tasting back at our residence, along with a charcuterie boards and three different wines. Easiest and most relaxing tour by far, and a great start to the day.
We had some down time during the day, with another wine tasting in the late afternoon. I ended up walking with Jackson to the nearby town in search of an ATM, and ended up just exploring a bit. We spotted a small church nearby, and ended up going in to the cemetery briefly.
Something we noticed right away – many of the sites showed numerous personal items. And referenced multiple members of the same family. We slowly realized that these were not individual graves, but family ones.
Many of the sites were incredibly old. A very reflective time, walking briefly here.
So – silly me, I made a huge mistake. Yesterday, I booked this tour for us… but I accidentally booked it for next week. Using their reservation calendar, I grabbed the first day available and thought it was today (and was wrong). Luckily, our tour guide was able to sort things out – and was able to add our party of 10 to an existing tour. Very lucky for us!
Outside the entrance to the caves at Château Franc Mayne.
Signage inside the cave.
By far one of the more interesting winery tours we’ve done.
I was reminded a lot of the chalk caves at Taittinger.
A great walk through the area, but I honestly wished it went a bit longer. We barely got in to the cave area, before we headed over to the tasting room. The tasting was great, but I could have easily spent another hour just walking around. I would have loved to have gone further/deeper into the caves here.
Anne and Jackson, outside the caves.
The Ford family, with the icon Franc Mayne tree.
The Holder women: Tricia, Liz, Grace.
A stop over in Saint-Émilion after the tasting, for some impromptu Canelés. Our group then ended up splitting up a bit, and just wandering around some.
Some of the paths were quite narrow (and the cobblestone was quite slick). Liz ended up finding a small set of concrete steps nearby, and the two of us went exploring.
We eventually were led down to a small street that ran behind a lot of the residences. I can’t imagine trying to drive here, in any size vehicle.
While it felt remote, after a few steps… we started to hear the noise and bustle of the town. A brief aside, before re-entering an area full of restaurants and shops.
Sebastian, hanging out.
Back at the chateau, things escalated a bit. Everyone else was inside, but Kirt was sitting out by the front door drinking some wine. He was soon joined by Pierre, the patron/manager of the estate… and the two of them were out drinking and talking and laughing. A bit after this, Anne walked by and Pierre insisted she join them. So another chair came out, and the three of them sat and drank wine together. I was running out to the car to get something, and en route… was also invited to join the group. So the next thing I know, I’m also sitting and drinking wine with everyone. Pierre was done with his work for the day, and hung out with us for several glasses (he also snuck away to get a bottle from his private stash to share with us). It was a lot, boisterous, funny, fantastic conversation. I learned a great deal about Pierre’s life, his medical struggles (the sum of which would fell most men), his view of the world, and his relationship with the vineyard – from both a familial and historical context. I have to say – every day at the chateau was a magical thing. I’d wake in the morning, and just be in awe at where we were staying. The view of the vineyard, watching the tractors work down each row, the sound of the rooster and peacocks in the distance. But tonight was one of my favorite moments – this conversation, sharing time with Kirt, Anne, and most of all Pierre. While we were guests staying on the property, talking and drinking with Pierre made it feel more special, more personal. We were delighted by his company, and over several glasses of wine we felt even more welcomed and even more at home. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières Bordeaux, Day 4: Morning Market in Sarlat, Kayaks and Castles Along the Dordogne River Bordeaux, Day 5: Exploring Château de Lescours, Wine Tasting at Château de Pressac, and a Late Evening Stroll]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 5: Exploring Château de Lescours, Wine Tasting at Château de Pressac, and a Late Evening Stroll]]> https://avoision.com/?p=526342 2026-06-25T00:36:48Z 2026-06-07T14:00:00Z I haven’t taken enough photos of the main floor at the chateau. On walking in, it’s a long, massive area that houses a living room area, an enormous banquet table, and a full kitchen.
View from the front door.
I think I was taking out the trash this morning, and just kept encountering some of the many animal statues all around the grounds.
A view of one of the main buildings.
One of many areas where there were tables and chairs, for folks to gather around a bottle or two of wine.
More statues.
There once was an actual moat surrounding the buildings, which apparently was even deeper than what is visible today. And, of course, within the moat – several alligator statues.
Fast forward a bit to one of our first wine tastings. Liz and I went along with the Holder family to Château de Pressac.
We got a tour of the facilities.
The buildings were deceptive – on the outside, they looked much older, but were quite modern on the inside.
Barrels and storage.
Cool to see these amphoras, which were also used as storage.
A view of one of the buildings, standing in the main courtyard.
Walking back towards the tasting room.
We were part of a sizable group, all tasting several of the wines from the chateau.
Here was something interesting – while there were some larger grocery stores nearby, they were a good 10+ minutes away. But nearby… there was an Api location (a small, self-contained grocery store that had some basics and relied on shoppers checking themselves out). I had found out about this during some of my pre-trip research. To access the store, you needed to download the app and create an account, but it wasn’t possible for me to do in the States. By the time we arrived, I had forgotten about it… and this morning, was frantically trying to find a way in. The app ended up not working well, due to my US phone number. But I was able to submit a message to Api Support… and during the wine tasting, I was able to get a lot of help. I was sent a QR code to use, and was able to use that instead of the app… and was able to get in this evening. Interesting note: on applying for my account, I needed to indicate where I was staying, and also had to upload photos of where I was staying. So I guess access to each location is specific, and having an account does not necessarily mean you can walk into any location you choose.
Inside, there was a good mix of things. It was warm, but most of the items on the shelves were fine without refrigeration. But there were refrigerated and frozen items as well. Pretty handy as a place to go, and definitely helped us out later on… when all the grocery stores closed early on a Sunday. Tonight, we gathered some extra ingredients for a dinner at the chateau.
On returning home, we found some of the peacocks just relaxing by the cars.
We ended up letting the younger family members figure out dinner (we had a variety of pastas and veggies). While they were figuring out the meal as a group, I snuck out with Liz and Kirt for a late stroll around the property.
A small coop (can’t recall if these were chickens or ducks).
At the far edge of the property.
At the border of the property.
This sign was pretty ominous, but I guess that was me reading in to the skull and crossbones. Translated, the text seems to be: “Passing through this gate is strictly prohibited, for the sake of the animals’ tranquility.”
More sculptures. Unexpected to see this here, but also quite awesome to see this here.
A view down one of the rows, looking back at the buildings.
A small, open area, with a bench.
An old bridge that has seen better days. None of us felt adventurous enough to try to cross.
Looking back towards our building.
Kirt and Liz, walking back to the house.
Our big family meal. With so many people, going out to eat is a complex (and expensive) endeavor. It was nice to be able to stay “at home,” and eat together.
Our dinner must have smelled quite good, as we had a lot of interest from outside our house. Luckily for us, we had the windows closed.
I don’t have any photos from the late evening… but several of us had a blast playing Jackbox Games (I downloaded a Party Pack, earlier in the day). We did several rounds of Quiplash, which is always a winner. Hard to believe the last time we played this game (with the Ford kids) was during the Pandemic ack in 2020. The games were a fun end to the day, with everyone being quite silly and loud. Really wish I had more images from this night, as it was one of my favorite moments – watching everyone hanging out and laughing together.
Liz and Tricia, working on some late night snacks. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières Bordeaux, Day 4: Morning Market in Sarlat, Kayaks and Castles Along the Dordogne River Playing Games with the Fords Quiplash: A Fun Group Party Game from Jackbox Games]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 4: Morning Market in Sarlat, Kayaks and Castles Along the Dordogne River]]> https://avoision.com/?p=526155 2026-07-01T00:54:55Z 2026-06-06T14:00:00Z Liz, and Audrey) arrived first. And we got really lucky with our parking (it was incredibly hectic, and most folks parked several blocks away and walked in on foot). Someone pulled out not two blocks from one of the entrances, and we were in the right place at the right time. While the others were on route, we explored a little bit of the market.]]> Sarlat (about a 90 minute drive from the chateau). There’s a weekend market today, and we were looking to spend a bit of time walking around. And after that, a short drive to the Dordogne river, where we would be trekking along the water and admiring the amazing scenery along the way.
Our car (me, Liz, and Audrey) arrived first. And we got really lucky with our parking (it was incredibly hectic, and most folks parked several blocks away and walked in on foot). Someone pulled out not two blocks from one of the entrances, and we were in the right place at the right time. While the others were on route, we explored a little bit of the market.
Liz and Audrey, looking over some handmade soaps.
A brief photo of Rue des Consuls, a small, narrow side street that you can easily miss if you walk too quickly by it. It snakes around a good deal, but has a very medieval feel, as the narrow path and high walls are all around you. Lots of little restaurants and tables, all along the path. Unfortunately, when we all arrived together… it was a bit of a rush. The market itself is quite large, and we didn’t really have enough time to meet up and have a coordinated lunch. The Holder family ended up getting some lunch from the vendors in the main market area. Liz and I joined the Ford family, and ended up getting some quick takeout from a cafe window. By the time we started to disperse, we were already seeing some of the vendors packing up their tables. Note for others: if you’re wanting to come here, try to get here as early as you can. There was a lot to walk through, and we ultimately didn’t have enough time to have a leisurely stroll. Everything felt a little rushed, as we were working against a clock. I don’t think we could have managd leaving earlier than we did. But if you come here, come early!
Fast forward a bit to our river excursion. We set up a two-hour tour of the Dordogne river, with most everyone in kayaks (and two canoes).
Our vessels, ready to be boarded and set off.
The river was actually moving at a quick pace. We learned that if you didn’t paddle at all, the journey should take about 2 hours. When standing on land and watching others go by, the river looked super fast. But on the water itself, it felt incredibly slow. I’d look down and see all the rocks zipping by… so I knew we were going at a good clip. But the moment I looked up at the cliffs in the distance, it felt like things were moving quite slowly.
Along the way, we were treated to some spectacular views.
Audrey and Paige, heading for a bit of… trouble.
It was a little dicey, trying to keep my camera safe/dry but also taking photos along the way.
Along the way, something happened. There were words and taunts exchanged, between Jackson (in a kayak) and the Ford canoe (Sebastian/Tricia). There was some racing involved. And some reaching. And also, the canoe ended up tipping over, with Sebastian and Tricia falling in. Some rowers (who were in a larger vessel) stopped over to help them get to shore. And Jackson/Sebastian ended up needing to tip the canoe over, to get rid of all the excess water. A bit later: Kirt swapped out, giving Sebastian his kayak, taking over the second spot in the canoe with Tricia. This was hilarious to see from where I was at (but I only saw the aftermath). A good memory from the outing, though I think for Tricia… it might be a few years, before this becomes a fond memory. If it ever does.
Again, the backdrop along our route was amazing.
Liz, taking a pause.
I’m not sure how this happened, but I slowly ended up being at the end of the caravan. I did well at the start, and caught up to folks… but then just slowly fell back and back.
Photos are better from the rear, I think.
Grace, in her kayak.
The family Ford. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 3: Day Trip to Bordeaux, Interactive Display at Bassins des Lumières]]> https://avoision.com/?p=525720 2026-06-25T00:37:30Z 2026-06-05T14:00:00Z Bassins des Lumières.]]> Today, everyone kind of split off into two different groups. We were all headed to Bordeaux, but had different agendas. One group went to the Wine Museum (which was having its 10th Anniversary celebration), and another group of us went to an interactive art display at Bassins des Lumières.
For our visit, we got to see two different presentations: one on Frida Kahlo, and another on Claude Monet. The space itself is a Nazi-era submarine pen, but digital projectors are set up so that the walls are illuminated everywhere you walk.
Once the presentations began, I ended up staying put. But it was great to watch an area, and then turn to see the animations continue along every wall. I was reminded of my time doing Flash animations. And started to fixate on all the different components that needed to be created. Every small detail that was animated needed to be generated, and it looked to be a tremendous amount of work.
It was a great use of the space – huge walls for the projections, and water to serve as a kind of mirror along the floor.
Mesmerizing, to say the least.
The “Citerne” area, which was an isolated space with its own projections. There were a lot of kids here, and padded mats were available for people to sit on the floor and just watch.
Fast forward a bit to us driving into downtown Bordeaux. The streets were a little hectic (bicycles and scooters everywhere), but we ended up finding a parking lot under the nearby mall. I wasn’t sure how things were working. We didn’t get prompted to take a ticket, and all I ended up seeing was this kiosk/display by the gated entrance. In a panic, I took a screenshot so that I could figure out what it was saying later. And then just drove in and found a parking spot.
Super tight space, but found a spot. Like my experience in Scotland, the parking garages in Bordeaux are just incredible compared to the States. Well-lit, open, and almost clean enough to where you could eat off the floor. Earlier in the day, Tricia and Sebastian ended up tapping out – and headed back to the Chateau around mid-afternoon. Paige and Audrey hung with me and Liz, and we wandered around downtown Bordeaux briefly, before dinner. We ended up meeting the Holder family for an early evening meal, before driving back home. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 2: Lazy Morning, Wine Tasting in Saint-Émilion, Unexpected Peacocks, Dinner in Libourne]]> https://avoision.com/?p=525628 2026-06-25T00:37:42Z 2026-06-04T14:00:00Z A slow start to the day. I hopped in the car with Kirt, Anne, and Jackson… and we just drove around for a good while, getting lost along some of the roads near the chateau. Everywhere you look, there’s a winery. Which I guess makes sense, since we’re in Bordeaux. But as far as the eyes can see, there are rows of grape vines. The roads are small and narrow, and everything is charming. There’s a stillness everywhere.
Paige, hanging out by the kitchen window, looking out over the pool.
In the late afternoon, a group of us went out for a bit of wine tasting. We didn’t have any wineries planned for today, and ended up driving to Saint-Émilion, and found a small wine bar that could accommodate us.
Wandered around the town a bit, afterwards. Very small and walkable, with a lot of shops.
Back at the chateau, Grace finds a few visitors loitering near our front door.
They seemed very interested in all the windows. And my guess is, if we let them… they’d come right inside (and never leave).
We headed out for a big group dinner tonight, driving to nearby Libourne. Related: Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours]]> 0 avoision http://avoision.com <![CDATA[Bordeaux, Day 1: Travel and Arrival at Château de Lescours]]> https://avoision.com/?p=525513 2026-06-25T00:37:51Z 2026-06-03T14:00:00Z Bordeaux was a bit pricey, so we opted for a layover in Paris (CDG). Walking to our connecting flight. Liz tried all the things, but wasn't able to sleep much at all. I napped for a brief bit, and was surprisingly ok with how little I actually slept.]]> Liz and I are joining the Holder family, as well as the Ford family, for several days together at Château de Lescours.
The direct flight from Chicago > Bordeaux was a bit pricey, so we opted for a layover in Paris (CDG). Walking to our connecting flight. Liz tried all the things, but wasn’t able to sleep much at all. I napped for a brief bit, and was surprisingly ok with how little I actually slept.
Fast forward a bit – after landing in Bordeaux and making our way to the car rental, we drove a bit out of the city to our destination: a week’s stay at Château de Lescours.
Walking the grounds slightly, taking a few photos as I go. Looking forward to walking around a lot more.
Next to where we’re staying, there was a barn filled with a lot of the tractors and equipment used to keep the vineyard going. I had to fight the urge to go in and look around, to see what tools and devices they used.
Also alongside the building where we were staying – a small pigeon coop.
Hanging out with the birds.
Looking to the South east, at the top of some old stairs leading down (across a moat) to the grape vines.
All around the grounds, there were these fantastic statues. These guys were right by the pool (another great amenity, attached to our building).
A view of one of the other buildings.
Another building, this one directly across from where we were staying.
Another view of the steps leading across the moat, to the southeast. Just standing here was amazing.
A friend, standing guard near the top of the stairs.
Another view from the steps.
Inside the first floor common area: a huge space with a kitchen, an impossibly long table, and a living room area. There were ten of us in total: the Holder family (Kirt, Anne, Jackson, Grace), the Ford family (Tricia, Paige, Audrey, Sebastian), and me and Liz. Related: Wine Weekend in Augusta, Day 1: Augusta Winery, Balducci Vineyards, and the Amazing Rooms at the H.S. Clay House Bed and Breakfast The Picard Imperative]]> 0