Sylvie and Gerard's home is extremely comfortable, set in crisp whites, you feel at home instantly. They went out of their way to have their dear friends pick my friend and I at the airport and drive us to their home. They showed us around the home and how to operate the car. These friends were so kind - they even invited us into their home and took us sightseeing locally! Another friend of the family generously took us into an old town Bordeaux market. She was so much fun to be with, we laughed a lot! We enjoyed eating our meals outside at the table adjacent to the pool, listening to the birds shattering in the trees and golfers walking by. The pool was refreshing when the temperatures soared. Their neighbourhood is very pretty and the house is within walking distance to the golf course club house and exceptional restaurant. We biked around the neighbourhood and into wine country nearby. We felt quickly in love with Filou, their cat, an extremely friendly and caressable creature. The housekeeper is very friendly and helpful too. I learned some of my best key French phases from her! The local markets and bakery are second to none. Of course there are ample wineries to visit while there. We liked St Emilion so much I went back again. A beautiful commune in the Gironde Department. The champagne there is exquisite as are the surrounding architecture. The red wine is overpriced but this is what it is known for to collectors. There are so many amazing areas to visit closeby. I went to Arcachon, Cap Ferret, Biarritz, Beyonne and even into San Sebastian and Bilbao Spain. I highly recommend visiting Bordeaux and living like like a local. The people were very friendly everywhere we went. If only we had more time we could have enjoyed local hiking spots. All in all, this is a 5 star exchange, I definitely would love to return to.