Random Thoughts

This was the second river cruise we have taken.  I enjoyed this one much more than the first one.  The Avalon Scenery is the oldest boat in the fleet and will be retired after this year.  It is only 8 years old and very well maintained.  There were only 58 passangers on board(capacity is 135) so that made everything much nicer.  The staff was great!  The food was good...not wonderful.  Far less choices than on an ocean cruise.

The scenery along the Rhone and Saone Rivers was not anything special.  Nothing to compare to floating down the Rhine!  That was beautiful.  The little towns we stopped at were nice but again nothing special.  I was surprised to see Roman ruins in the south of France.  Those sites were interesting.  We really did enjoy the 2 optional excursions for wine tastings.  I was really impressed with the miles and miles of very well cared for grape vines we saw and ,of course, the wine tasting!  Made it home with 5 bottles of wine in my check thru luggage!!!!

Enjoyed our time in Paris, especially our night tour with Paris Authentic.  Paris is magically with all the lights.  I had wanted to either tour Versailles or the Louvre but there just wasn't time.

Charlie did pretty well.  We got off to a rocky start but he actually did OK.  I think the long flight and the intense heat was hard on both of us.  I'm not sure if another river cruise s in our future.  They are really very expensive and the long flights are not fun.  

We are looking forward to our winter in Florida and possibly finding a short, cheap last minute cruise.  Don't know what the future will bring but so far so good!!!!!

Paris

Tuesday, July 21st and Wednesday, July 22nd

Known as one of the world's most romantic and lively cities, Paris is a delight for all your senses. Your included CITY SIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysees with its lavish cafes, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacre Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Paris is also well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world's most famous cabaret shows, such as the Moulin Rouge. All of this awaits your discovery! 

On our first night in Paris, we reserved  a 2 hour tour with Paris Authentic to see Paris after dark.  We were picked up at 10PM in a really cool Citroen 2CV, given a bottle of champagne, which we immediately cracked open and then driven around to all the main attractions in Paris.  It was a wonderful way to experience Paris at night.....keep 

Norte Dame Cathedral 

Great night!

Sacre Coeur Basilica at the foot of Montmartre

Driving down the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe at midnight!

Eiffel Tower......much more impressive at night!

The Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture.

16 lanes of traffic around the Arc de Triomphe!!!

Arc de Triomphe by day

Moulin Rouge.  On our last night in Paris, we attended a dinner show at the famous cabaret.  We had a good time.....the show was good the food was bad!!  Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside.  Of course, you could purchase them at a ridiculous  price!

Chalon-sur-Saone(disembark) Beaune-Dijon-Paris

Tuesday, July 21st

After breakfast, head by motorcoach to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cote d'Or area and Burgundy's wine capital. Although life here centers around wine, Beaune offers much more with its ramparts, medieval houses, cobblestone streets, and historical monuments. Visit the HOTEL-DIEU charity hospital, built in 1443 and paid for by the chancellor of Burgundyafter the Hundred Years' War left many of the town's population destitute. Today it houses Van der Weyden's painting of The Last Judgment and is one of France's architectural highlights. After lunch, continue to Dijon, where you board the TGV to Paris, the "City of Light." 
Disembarking went very smoothly. I guess that is the difference between 58 passengers and 3000+!!!  

Miles and miles of grape vines......

Entrance to Hotel-Dieu.  Hospice de Beaune.  A unique place where the spirit of the ducal Burgundy radiates.  This hospital, a "palace for the poor", was established in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy and his wife, Guigone de Salins.

Courtyard with the magnificent patterned roof made of glazed tiles, its Gothic gables and helf-timbered galleries.

One of the hospital beds.  Each bed held 2 patients. This is the womens section.

Mens section

Pharmacy

"The Last Judgement" by Rogier van der Weyden (d.1464 is a masterpiece of observed detail and religious insight.

Boarding the TGV in Dijon to our last stop.....Paris, the "City of Lights'!!!!

keep 

Macon-Tourmus-Chalon-sur-Saone

Monday, July 20th

MACON-TOURNUS-CHALON-SUR-SAONE
Wake up this morning in Macon on the Saone River, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. From here, a choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. A short cruise takes you to Tournus. Be sure to visit the abbey of St. Philibert, which dates back to the 10th century and is a superb example of Romanesque architecture. In 2002, while the abbey was being renovated, electricians discovered a mosaic portraying the zodiac under the floor coverings--this is now available for public viewing. While sailing to Chalon-sur-Saone, enjoy an onboard CHEESE TASTING. 

Grapes vines as far as you can see. There are very strict rules regarding the planting, growing and harvesting of the grapes and the wine making process. 

Walking among the vines.

Site of our vine tasting.  So beautiful!

Charlie and a cat!!!!

Getting pretty good with the "selfie"

In the wine cellar for our tasting

Pinot Noir and Pouilly-Fuisse

Charolais Cattle 

A beautiful day!  The scenery was the best of the trip. I never invisioned the miles and miles of grape vines. Great day.....

Lyon

Sunday, July 19th

Lyon

Lyon is France’s third-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight visitors. You are joined by a LOCAL GUIDE as you survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafés, monuments, and the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Be sure to sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region. 

Again!!!! we overslept!!!!  I set the alarm on my iPhone but unfortunately, I forgot to turn the volume up!!!  We got up at 8:45AM and were out for the tour at 9AM.

Fourviere. Two excavated Roman theaters

Norte-Dame-de-Fourviere

Old town, medieval Lyon

Entrance to one of the traboules, which is a covered passageway between two streets.

Charlie and a cat

Charlie and the wine....

Steak Tartare x 3

Our boat on the Rhone

Another selfie.  Another good day.....

Tourmon/Tain. I'Hermitage-Viennese

Saturday, July 18th

Tournon/Tain L’Hermitage–Vienne

The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Enjoy a GUIDED WALK of Tournon, one of France’s oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. Arriving in Vienne in the late afternoon, a GUIDED WALK shows you the charming little town surrounded by steep hills—one of the oldest towns in the region. Explore the town center to see the Roman Theater, which once held 13,000 spectators, and the Augustus and Livia Temple, built around 20 BC and converted into a church in the Middle Ages. 

Well....that is what was described for today!!!!  Unfortunately, we didn't wake up until after 9AM.  We completely missed the stop at Tournon.  In talking to other passangers, there really was just a Saturday market to visit.  While I would have enjoyed that, I don't think we missed much.  Another beautiful day.  It even seems a little cooler.

View from the sun deck leaving Tournon.

Entering another lock

Late in the afternoon, we docked in Vienne.  We started on a walking tour of the town butwe cut it short as the weather turned bad.

Crossing the pedesterian walkway into town

Cathedral of St. Maurice

Temple of Augustus and Livia

I'm sure there was much more to see but we hurried back to the boat before we got soaked!

Another good day!!!!

Cruising-Viviers

Friday, July 17th

Cruising–Viviers

A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, join your LOCAL GUIDE for a walk around the charming town of Viviers, which developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL. The OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. 

It was so good to have a quiet morning!!!!  This was the first daytime sailing thru a lock.

Entering the lock

In the lock

Exiting the lock

One of the 7 nuceleur power plants in France.

In the afternoon, Charlie decided to stay on board and rest and I took the tour to the Cathedral of St. Vincent in a beautiful location on a hill overlooking the village of Viviers.

Selfie on the grounds of the cathedral.

One of the 5 tapastries hanging in the choir stalls.

The churrch has outstanding acoustics.  We all enjoyed a short organ concert at the end of the visit.  

After dinner, we attended a crew show.  We have seen many of these type of cruises on our ocean cruises but this was the best I have ever seen!  Tony Williamson, the cruise director, sang a Billy Joel song.  He really has a great voice. So much fun....the show ended with most of us (even Charlie) getting on the dance floor to YMCA!!!

Great break dancer!

WOW..........