Bordeaux Airport France

Bordeaux - Merignac International Airport South west France

Jennifer and Christine set of from La Giraudiere to collect another new arrival for the work program that is in full swing at La Giraudiere. Christine, from New Zealand, and I Jennifer, a Canadian, set out by car on a warm Friday morning to the Bordeaux Airport to greet the next member of the group destined for La Giraudiere or LG as we the present group had named it. We followed one of Paul's infamous handwritten maps and used the France map book for more specific street names as airport parking bordeaux image

back up. We didn't want to miss our turn and be late! The main route to the airport does not go directly through Bordeaux, but is the main ring route otherwise known as Rocade which circles Bordeaux and the airport is to the to the north west of Bordeaux. The turn off to the airport is called Merignac and was well marked but be sure to follow the Merignac Airport signs and not those to the Town of Merignac. Only a slight delay making a turn on to the round about due to construction on the hard shoulder.

Once we were on the main road entering the Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, the signs above were clearly marked with Arrivals, Departures, Guest Paid Parking, Rental Car etc. We arrived early as the purpose of the trip was two-fold, to pick up our new guest and the other request by Paul involved taking pictures for this brief article to be posted on the La Giraudiere website.

The entrance to the lot for Guest Parking was to the left of the Passenger Arrival and Departure lanes. We took a ticket and it was noted on the ticket stand that parking for 30 minutes is free. Even though the lot seemed very busy and almost 1/2 full, we didn't have far to walk; through the Rental Car lot, that offered Hertz, Avis, National, Europcar, to the main Terminal. Once through the Rental Car lot, we crossed a couple of driving lanes where people exit the Terminal. The stop for the Metro Bus station was situated to the left and the Jet Bus and Taxi cue were located very conveniently to the right, directly out front of the main floor exit doors. As we made our approach to the main doors of the Terminal, a garden of manicured rows of grape vines welcomed us and added a bright green contrast to the large white cement pillars and metallic gray glass of the Terminal.

We noticed the Terminal was divided into Hall B on the left for Departures and to the right, Hall A for Arrivals. We entered close to the centre of the main floor of the Terminal, so we took a few minutes to read the information and directions on the pillars. With a mix of eager anticipation and curiousity growing about who the new arrival would be, we made our way down the corridor to the waiting area of Hall A.
We approached Hall A and the lighting on the main floor corridor seemed to became brighter as we walked. We noticed an Information Booth our left and Hall A opened up to reveal a spacious white tile reception area on the main floor and escalators to a second floor with vaulted airport bordeaux shops restaurants image

airport bordeaux shops restaurants image

ceilings and lined with shops and cafes and a play area for children. The sun shining down from the second floor illuminated the white tile of the passenger reception area and cast cool shadows on the people sipping espresso as they waited for their friend or loved one to arrive in the Cafe tucked away to the back of the reception area. The open, airy reception area and Cafe with accents of tangerine orange gave the whole experience of greeting someone a tres tres chic, tres French feeling. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes pass. I'm standing next to Christine as we wait.She's holding a sheet of white paper with the name of our new group member

Bordeaux - Merignac International Airport France