BACK TO BORDEAUX

We went back to Bordeaux to get Arnold's carte de sejour. We had to appear in person so that entailed another trip. We again rode the TGV train. The only connections we could get made it so we had to stay an extra day. We went up early Tuesday morning and came home Thursday afternoon.

We met with the Bordeaux Zone Leaders and they told us that Tracey, one of the amis they had been teaching before we left, was going to be baptized. She and her boyfriend had gotten married as one step towards baptism. They both want to be baptized. Tracey is from Africa so she had to go back to get the marriage legalized there. They will be baptized as soon as that is taken care of. It was an interesting story how she was initially contacted. Elder Warren and Elder Stucker were riding on the bus. Elder Warren had a distinct impression to talk to her, but someone else began talking to him and suddenly it was the Elders' bus stop at their apartment, so Elder Warren thought he had missed his chance. Tracey, however, got off at the same bus stop and began walking in the same direction as the Elders. They struck up a conversation, and, as it turns out, she lives in the same apartment complex as the Elders. In fact, she lives right across the hall from them. She is from Africa but speaks English better than French and was so happy to find someone to talk about religion that could speak English. She had been looking a long time for this. After the Elders talked with her and made an appointment to teach her later, they returned to their apartment. A few minutes later there was a loud knock on their door. It was Tracey's boyfriend. The Elders were afraid he was mad at their talking to his girlfriend. Quite the contrary. He thanked them so much because Tracey had been looking for so long and was so very happy to have met them. She then came to church every Sunday after that. It was nice because JoAnn felt that she could help Tracey with her English at church. Tracey's boyfriend soon started coming to church also and now they are planning to be baptized. The Lord truly does work miracles everyday.
We stayed at the Ibis Hotel near the Prefecture's office. It was a very lovely hotel. The one with the kitchen that we stayed in last time was all booked up. This one didn't have a kitchen, but it did have a lovely dining room with a wonderful breakfast buffet. In the evening they also had a dessert buffet that looked fantastic, but we didn't get a chance to try that one.

This is a view from the window in the hallway of the hotel. We stayed on the 11th Floor. It shows some of the rooftops of Bordeaux and the ever present cranes. Trying to build or rebuild in Bordeaux is very difficult without these huge cranes to maneuver the construction equipment and materials in the tight spaces of the city.Out of another window was this view of Saint Catherine Cathedral.

The tram stopped just outside of our hotel. We bought day passes, and, after completing some business, including finally getting Arnold's carte de sejour, we enjoyed touring the city from the comfort of the tram.
The sights began even before we got on the tram. This is a view of St. Catherine's from the tram stop.
This gigantic dog also enjoyed the comfort of the tram. He was the most interesting color. He almost looked striped like a tiger. He was very well behaved, although he kept people from going down that part of the tram. He just lay quietly with his head on his owner's feet. The only time he moved was when Arnold took his picture and he became instantly alert.
This old tree was one of the sights we saw on one of our excursions around the city. It is covered with metallic pieces and gives it the appearance of an arboreal robot. Arnold said to title this one "The Three Blockheads." Sorry, but JoAnn didn't do it.
There was a large cruise ship docked on the quai by the river. They come into Bordeaux often as a tourist stop. We loved Bordeaux, but never could see the tourist appeal.
This is the Bordeaux that we know. Interesting but not very touristy (is that a word?).

The following bronze plaque was installed in the pavement by of the Bordeaux Train Station. It is a moving and fitting memorial to those who risked their lives to save over 60 Jewish families from extermination camps set up by the Nazis during the Second World War years. It is so large that it took several shots to get it all in and still be legible. A full translation is given below.

HE WHO SAVES A LIFE SAVES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
(from The Talmud)

The years 1942, 1943 and 1944 shattered the lives of 1650 members of the Jewish community of Bordeaux and Gironde of which 225 were children.

But thanks to the intervention of the RIGHTEOUS, cited hereafter, about sixty families were able to escape the raid and deportation to extermination camps organized by the Vichy Police and Nazi occupiers.

Mr. Alain JUPPÉ, mayor of Bordeaux, wanted to engrave on this bronze slab, homage and recognition to all those who, of all political, social and religious persuasion, at peril to their own lives provided succor and safety to those so persecuted.

This list is but tentative for reasons of discretion, for the many Righteous that will so remain anonymous to this day.

BALLINI Germaine-Therese
BEAUCAILLOU Mauticette et René
BERENADAC Marcel
BOUSSAT Thérèse et Charles
CADAPEAUD Jeanne et Georges
CEREZEULLE Edith
DAIGUEPERSE Henri
DE SOUSA MENDES Aristide
DUMARCHAT Etienne
ELLUL Jacques
ESTEVE Anne-Marie
FARGUES-LAJUGIE Marguerite
HAUTEFAYE Maurice
HERPE Georgette et Emile
LACOSTE Robert
LADEVEZE Madeleine
LAGARDE Marcel
MITEAU Lucienne et Georges
PINET Jeanne
SAUVIAC-FANOUILLAIRE Raymonde-Jacquline
TAUZAIN René
VERGNAUD Marthe et Paul
VINCELOT-LAURENS Pierrette

The 16th of July 2008

Alain Juppé Bordeaux

As the sun sets in the west, we bid a fond farewell (again) to Bordeaux. It has been a marvelous part of our mission and we will miss it and the people very much.