There was a strange air around Bordeaux on our last day in the city.
We set out on foot along Quai Richelieu toward Place de la Bourse and saw a large group moving in the same direction as us. There was a clear indication that they were protesters from their neon green vests and huddled masses.
Immediately my girlfriend noticed a fight break out as we crossed the street and we decided to part from the crowd since we were unsure of their intentions, moving to see some of the other, less turbulent sights.
As we moved on, many of the stores were closed and people flooded to the crowds to join in the demonstration to protest their discontent with the current government.
We reached St. Andre Cathedral and noticed the police barricades and officers in riot gear.
The cathedral was closed due to the demonstrations as well as the museum of fine arts, which we also planned on visiting.
After a brief moment of disappointment we decided to walk toward our AirBnB hoping there would be less tension in a different area of the city.
Signal flares shot into the sky, protesters slammed on signs, people on motorcycles were driving erratically through the streets, armed soldiers marched, and police sirens wailed.
We grabbed some wine and bread, then decided to lay low and take a nap in hopes that the tensions would calm while trying to avoid the seemingly endless amount of people marching in protest along most of the main city streets.
There was a faint smell of smoke as I was awoken by the sounds of screaming, sirens and a police helicopter overhead.
We turned on the news to see violent outbursts had broken out around the city and noticed some were just around the corner from us at Porte de Bourgogne.
I opened the window to our place on Rue de Maubec and noticed a group of young men in masks about ten feet away at the corner of Rue de Pontets and Rue de Maubec.
They screamed and threw bottles down the street shouting at the nearby police only to be met with return force.
I head a low thump and saw a canister hit the street. Tear gas poured from the canister and I scared my girlfriend letting out a very clear “OH SHIT!” and slamming the window closed.
We stayed in as the smell crept through the window and the chaos ensued for another few hours before going back to the normal tranquility of Bordeaux’s city streets.
Hopefully there won’t be much more of the same, but we treated the situation like any Floridian treats a hurricane.
When you’re trapped indoors, lock down, stay in, and drink.
Cheers to unexpected surprises….right?
