So as mentioned in my previous post, I decided I needed to take a break from work and as Pierre is soon to be leaving France to go to Australia, I thought it was the perfect decision.
All of this coincides with some choice shoutings and angriness with Easy Jet. I was actually meant to go to Toulouse during Christmas time to visit a friend that is supposed to be coming back from Beijing for good. …however he had complications his end, so that changed.
Anyway, getting back on track… last time I went to Bordeaux…I don’t think I wrote about it, but it was just in Bordeaux city centre. We only had 3 days, and we wanted to see cape Ferret (pronounced Cape Fairy), which is the seaside town Pierre grew up in… but… we were all pretty sick. The kind of sick that not seeing a good friend for a long time brings along… ie. Sick from partying too much.
On that particular one… I’ve learnt a pretty harsh lesson… the little warning on a box of magic truffles (magic mushrooms) that says ‘do NOT consume with alcohol’ is… well….it is to be taken seriously.
We were totally messed up. I was still being sick until 8pm the next night. Although what a night previously. I think when you starting complaining…and or shouting and arguing with inanimate objects…. Then … either you’ve gone completely crazy, or… just maybe you’re onto something. (unravelling the conspiracies of the world)
Or…not.
So…the point of this trip was actually to see where Pierre grew up, and see how he grew up. It’s nice to be able to see that kind of thing for a friend…it gives you that little bit extra closeness I think.
Anyway, Pierre actually organised everything, to the point that everything was really simple. Note. I was still really sick, but that had to do with a combination of tiredness a little raw meat than I was used to (maybe some alcohol) but rather than the mixtures of magic mushrooms as before.
By the way, the candid way that I talk about eating magic mushrooms stems from the fact that it’s completely legal in the Netherlands.
So I got to the airport in Bordeaux, and Pierre had organised a car for me to rent (50 euros for 5 days- absolutely incredible)
But the deposit was 1,200 euros which I had a bit of trouble getting organised.
1st time driving on the European side of the road in a MANUAL car. I drive all the time in the Netherlands, and its not that difficult to get used to, but adding a manual to the mix…actually just made it fun.
Oh by the way, for all those people that say with disdain usually…. “oh you drive on the WRONG side of the road” you see we drive on the right – and right means right”
Or…whatever crap they say.
To me now, it honestly doesn’t matter…like it doesn’t even register to me anymore. I think those kind of people just need to travel more. Europe drives on the right hand side of the road… oh and America which I presume followed the Europeans, and the UK, Australia, Japan, and a whole bunch of other countries drive on the left. Who cares why they do this. They do it, its done. And switching from one system to another…isn’t that difficult.
The car company was the easiest rental agency I’ve ever had to deal with, and I would highly recommend them. So car from Bordeaux airport to Cape Ferret, really nice drive…France is quite beautiful this time of year, and nice to be on some country roads.
Then arrived at Pierre’s brothers house, Louis…for which I haven’t seen since Beijing. Really cool house by the way. He’s started his own clothing brand called Nature is Coming.
Really interesting to see how all of that works.
Anyway, we then drove the car back into Bordeaux to pick up Pierre’s girlfriend, and say hello to Pierre’s grand parents, and then from there we drove all the way down to Spain, Saint Sebastien.
Yep straight away to Spain.
By the way, seeing the difference between Pierre, Louis and their grandparents was kind of funny. You feel that they must be so proud of them. Pierre and Louis are both towering figures of men, both filled with lots of passion for whatever they do… I think they bring a lot of energy to whoever meets them. And then having that family bond I think it makes their grand parents really happy.
So Spain, I think it wasn’t so much Spain itself, but the chance to spend more time with Pierre and his direct family was more to the point. Even being in the car for 4 hours with them was already pretty awesome.
As we were starting to approach the border both Pierre and Louis started shouting out the window “El rico de Poyo” or at least that’s what I think they were saying “you’re chicken is rich!”
Apparently this is a compliment or something… but they were saying it in a very typical Spanish accent.
So every season apparently Pierre’s mum took him and Louis to the Pyrenees mountains for skiing, which is why they are so good at skiing and snowboarding, something which I’ve seen 1st hand; after which they spent some time in Spain. So whilst Pierre jokes about his Spanish, its actually pretty much fluent, same as Louis’. I was pleasantly surprised.
It came in handy by the end of that 1st night when the police came knocking and they both had to deal in Spanish with the Spanish police who were actually very cordial. But that’s not a story for here.
But Spain was actually pretty cool too. Although to be fair, we didn’t see much. As you can very well imagine, we arrived, found the Air BnB Pierre had booked and then Louis and I went off to the local super market to get some beer. And then we started drinking.
It was a night of dancing and drinking, and tapas and meeting locals as well as really random people. All things that Pierre shines at.
Here’s some pictures.
Anyway, after recovering somewhat from the hangover, we took a look at the seaside, and then drove our way to another seaside town, but this time in France. Saint Jean de Luz. That day was nice as well, we even visited a casino…for which I really can’t understand the point of them. They are so obviously rigged against you.. and you know, my cynical mind starts whirring to the point where you can justify 1 member of our group winning…as it was designed like that to entice the rest of us in.
I felt the pull a little bit, but it must be horrible for those people that are very weak willed… they are the kind of people that will get drawn in.
Anyway a nice dinner that night with good conversation, some trying of a basque traditional cake….really really good…. followed by a nice drive back to Cape Ferret and then planning for a BBQ at Louis’ place. Although just the 4 of us.
I got to see the beach where Pierre and his brother often went, and then the blockhouses that the Germans left behind. A lot of them decorated in very nice ways.
Plus, understand a lot more about how a fashion company works. And especially how they do their marketing in the modern age, it really is fascinating how to use facebook for advertising…although to be fair I didn’t understand everything there.
Here’s Louis’ website and brand. https://natureiscoming.fr/
The brand is kind of showing a come-back of nature with the contradiction of the human world.
Louis’ first t-shirt was a starfish riding a skateboard eating an ice-cream… the whole concept is absolutely ludicrous, but I think that kind of makes it funny and intriguing.
Anyway, had a huge BBQ there… ate meat that was a bit too undercooked… and my stomach was crying out for some vegetables.. I have thus now gone a week on much more vegetable diet….trying to purge my body of any undigested red meat I may have.. and trust me, I was eating a lot of meat before… sometimes steak for breakfast. …not good.
Ended up seeing a bit more of where Pierre grew up and then drove back to the airport, handed the car back caught my flight and was at work Monday afternoon.
In the end, ti was awesome to catch up with Pierre again, and see where he grew up and for him to share with me a little bit of how life life was like. I think to know that of your friends it is very important.
I full intend to do that for him when he comes to Perth.
Have fun in Australia Pierre. Wish you all the best.
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