My first day

 After my nap on Sunday, I decided to go to the market.  I had shopped in France before so I knew to take a bag with me.  I got all the basics: Coke Sans Sucres, chips, a baguette (I can't be gluten-free here.  Not with French bread all around.), steak and eggs.

When I went to check out, my credit cards would not work.  I tried three with the same result.  Then I remembered that they hadn't worked in McDonald's at the airport either.  This could be a problem.  Luckily for me, I had used my bank card to get some cash at the airport and paid the bill with cash.

After I got home, I thought I would take a ride to the end of the peninsula we were in, to Le Verdon.  It was only about 50 miles away.  I was halfway there when I realized I didn't know if I had enough gas to get back home, and, since my credit cards were not working, and it was Sunday, I didn't know if I could get any gas.

(You can click on this map to see where I am.  Le Verdon is at the very top.  I am a little south of Margeaux on the right.)

So I turned around and went to a closer place, Hourtin. Hourtin itself is not on the water.  In fact, none of the cities listed as on the coast really are on the water, it seems.  That's because there are large hills between the beaches and the houses.  You have to go to Hourtin Plage (Beach).  A narrow road takes you there.  Eventually, there are the usual souvenir stores and cafes on the one road leading to the actual beach.


You have to take a long ramp to the beach below. 




 Even though it was a very nice day and a Sunday, there were very few people on the beach, clustered around a lifeguard.


I went into a store, bought a magnet for my fridge, as is my want, and got back in my car and hoped I could find a gas station. I couldn't but I still had a little more than a quarter tank, so I drove home, thinking I would get gas first thing in the morning.

A little about the house.  It's obvious that there are young girls living here.  Their bedrooms are covered with toys and especially BTS posters. 




I think these guys are from Korea.  They are obviously a worldwide phenomenon.

The TV is great.  I've found lots of English language programs like The Office (US version) and Better Call Saul.  Just no English language news, which I really miss.

I'm to keep the one fish one of the daughters has alive for the time I am here.  He (she?) gets three pellets every third day, I was told.  Three and no more.  I'm thinking this guy must be huge to get three pellets.  But he's not, he's a Beta all alone in his tank.



And the pellets turn out to be granules.  And very little granules.  I sent a message to the owner just to be sure this is what she means and she again said "Just 3."  OK, I get it.

By the way, I was to look at the calendar in the kitchen to see what days Rio the fish gets fed and it's every other day, not every third.

At least I don't have to feed the goat out back.

Last night I was feeling like I should go to Bordeaux and see that city.  So I looked up a walking tour and booked it for this morning at 10.  Angelique, who I am swapping with, said to go to this tram station and take the tram into town.  

I also made sure my credit card company knew I was here, just to be sure.  

So I drove into Bordeaux to the tram station, looking for a gas station along the way, but not finding one. I decided to park at the station and worry about it later.  I drove up to the parking lot which was not attended.  You had to use your credit card, and you had to tap it.  There was no other way to get in.  You can probably guess, my card would not work.  I had to back up and get out of the way of the cars behind me.  I pulled to the side and made a somewhat angry call to my credit card company.  They said they had not had any activity on the card and perhaps the chip wasn't working.  

So I turned to go home, but first I found a gas station with an attendant inside this little shop, like in the US. My card worked there!  Who knows what happened before?  Anyway.  I filled up the tank for 60 euro!!  That's over $60.  I will never complain about the price of gas in the US again.

I was a little ticked when I got in the car at the airport and saw only half a tank.  (I had filled my car up before I left.) Now I totally understand it.  We both spent about $30 on gas.

I went home and took a nap.  



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