THE TROUBLE with having so much storage on my phone is that it has inadvertently become a digital hoard of images that have been all but forgotten, the favourites already printed and framed, or made into polaroids. The rest are meant to be sorted at some point, but there are so many of them that it’s become a tedious task to be avoided. Every once in a while though, while waiting in a queue somewhere, I mindlessly flip through the camera roll and fall into old memories and far-off places. This was one of those times, and these photos, from a past trip to Bordeaux, France, were just too beautiful to be kept lost in a sea of digital afterthoughts. They tell only part of the story of ten magical days⏤a time of peonies and roses; and picnics along the river; midnight sushi and champagne in the park; early mornings and coffee on terraces, and the most delicious canelés, the local pastry (a custard centre behind a dark caramelised crust); of carousels and antique shops, ice cream cones and so much sun …
Miroir d'eau
Above, the Miroir d’eau (Water Mirror) in Bordeaux is the world’s largest reflecting pool, covering 3,450 square metres (37,100 sq ft). Built in 2006, it is located on the Quais de la Garonne in front of the Place de la Bourse and was designed by landscape artist Michel Corajoud and built by the fountain-maker Jean-Max Llorca along with the architect Pierre Gangnet. The reflecting pool is made of granite slabs covered by 2 cm of water; a system allows it to create mist every 15 minutes. The Miroir d’eau operates from April to October, and is the most-photographed site at the Port de la Lune, Bordeaux’s harbour.
