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Romantic Rhone and Seine
  • Janette and John

Romantic Rhone and Seine

Fly into Barcelona. Three days in Barcelona then a coach to Arles, Southern France. Seven day cruise on the Rhone to Lyon. Fast train from Lyon to Paris. Time in Paris. Seven day cruise on the Seine to Northern France. Fly out of Paris. Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 19, 2019
    Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    1The route - into Barcelona - out of Paris.

    Tour map

    May 16, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Here's the map of the tour - we keep looking at it and try to imagine the places we'll visit. If you want to see more, here's the link to APT -https://www.aptouring.com.au/trips/europe/eursc… .Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Curled up with a good book in business class.

    The only way to fly!!!

    May 19, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Picture is Janette curled up 'in bed' with a good book.
    We're still four or five hours from Barcelona. We've been on this leg for about eight and a half hours, leaving Singapore about midnight Singapore time. We arrived a bit late into Singapore due to being put in a holding pattern because of the amount of air traffic. We had to change terminals and gate to gate we estimate was three kms. We got there in one of those airport buggies about ten minutes before takeoff.
    On the first leg, Janette had a window seat and I had the aisle - seats were two together down the sides and two together down the middle. We settled in and checked out all the gadgets etc. a hostess asked if we would like a drink (does a bear play in the woods?) and we asked for a Sav Blanc. We ordered dinner - beef for me, snapper for Janette. First “sorry we're out of Sav Blanc, will chardy be OK? “ Next “sorry we've run out of snapper but we've got chicken”. Both were fine.
    In the meantime we kept checking out the gadgets, especially the seat which turned into a bed at the push of a button - slowly. In fact there was a row of buttons that made the seat do all sorts of things - I was like a kid in a toy shop. Janette's chair wouldn't budge though. Cabin crew came and switched things on and off and unplugged and replugged - but it didn't want to work. It was decided we would move to two empty seats in the middle after dinner which allowed Janette the window seat for the remaining daylight.
    I pointed out that hopefully they're the three things that will go wrong.
    Some time after we'd moved and had retired to bed, a steward knelt next to me and gave me what are effectively two cheques for $100 each for being inconvenienced. He said we can spend them in duty free any time in the next twelve months. I, of course, protested, not very strongly, that it wasn't necessary, that we hadn't really been too inconvenienced... but I wasn't letting go of those cheques.
    The rest of the journey, we've been chasing the night. We'll land in Barcelona at dawn. I'll post again later.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    El Palace Hotel
    Park Guell.Park Guell.Park Guell.The Metro, BarcelonaView from El Palace

    Day 1 Barcelona

    May 20, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Landed at dawn, went straight through customs, were met by Chris from APT and were at the El Palace Hotel before 9am. As our rooms wouldn't be ready till 2pm we needed to kill some time. As if we hadn't eaten enough on the flights over, we went to a nearby cafe to have another breakfast and decide where to go.
    Many of the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona are the work of architect Antoni Gaudi. The number two attraction is Park Guell and we decided that we'd go there. We're going to the number one tomorrow. So we got a taxi and spent the rest of the morning with hundreds of other tourists exploring the park.
    There is no way I can start to describe the experience. Take a few minutes to check out the link below and you'll see why.

    https://www.parkguell.es/en/portada

     We thought about a taxi back but there was a shuttle bus at the park exit. We were informed that it would take us to an underground railway station and that our tickets into the park allowed us a free trip on the bus. It was also explained that there is a station a few blocks from our hotel. As they say, the rest is history.
    Our room was ready on time and up we went. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing and unpacking. There are drinks downstairs at 6.30 to meet other people in the tour group and to get a briefing on tomorrow's program. After that we'll have something to eat and an early night.
    We walked around to a recommended tapas bar and enjoyed sharing a couple of dishes - one prawn and one pork.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    1Gaudi's house. Barcelona
    Gothic quarterRoman gravesHouse built onto Roman wallRoman wall

    Gaudi, architecture and gothic quarter

    May 21, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Breakfast at 7 then assemble at 8 for our tour to finish at 2. It was a real architectural morning. First was access to an Antoni Gaudi creation before it opened to the general public. This is another occasion where I don't know that I can describe what we saw. When you first see pictures of his creations you might think they are weird. But when you visit them it may well confirm that point of view, or you could be awed. We are awed.
    The first visit was to Casa Batllo, a house in the middle of Barcelona designed by Gaudi (first two pictures). It is amazing. It was completed in 1906. There is a big lightwell in the centre of the house down through the seven storeys - a feature that would be more than acceptable today. Again, I think the best thing would be to google casa batllo.
    Next was the oldest part of town - the gothic quarter. This was on the edge of the city when there was a Roman wall around the city. Most of the wall has long gone, but a little still remains. Where it can be seen there is often a building built in front of the wall and backing right up to it. Therefore it's thought that much of the wall is probably still there as part of existing buildings. There are excavations showing Roman burial sites and there will be many more beneath buildings.
    The attraction of the gothic quarter is really the maze of narrow streets with assortments of little shops.
    The last visit was to the Basilica Familia. So that I can add more photos, I'll put that on a separate post.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Basilica Familia.
    1Barcelona's Trafalgar Square

    Basilica Familia

    May 21, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    https://www.footstepsontheglobe.com/destination…

     I must admit that I was very sceptical about this 'church'. I'd heard so much about its construction and had seen pictures. Its appearance confused me. Having now seen it close up I have to say that it's amazing. The outside is one thing, but the inside is colossal. The columns inside support the roof and towers so the walls aren't load bearing - this meant a lot more leeway on window design as there is little stress on them. My photos might show how big is it but I think it's worth clicking on the link above or googling basilica familia.
    This entire project is funded by donations only. All donors are strictly anonymous except for Gaudi and one other early supporter. Anonymity ensures that no person or company can use their donation for marketing purposes. Gaudi was well off but wasn't interested in money or even eating. He was hit by a tram. He wasn't recognised - he just looked like a tramp. He died in a charity hospital. He had no family - all his money went towards the building. Our guide pointed out that everyone who buys a ticket is also a donor. They want to complete building by 2026, the one hundredth anniversary of his death.
    We got back to the hotel about two and went to a nearby bakery and bought a couple of rolls for lunch. The afternoon was spent walking back to the gothic quarter and having another wander round.
    On the walk back, we went into a square knicknamed Trafalgar Square because of the number of pigeons there.
    Tonight we were taken to a little farm that is now a restaurant and had a few wines and far too much to eat. They just kept bringing out plates of food for the ten at each table to share. I think there are 38 of us doing this Barcelona part of the tour.
    This type of eating is called tapas.

     Tomorrow - Montserrat (serrated mountain).    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Montserrat - serrated mountain.
    Middle of picture - the black madonna. Ground level - people waiting to hear the choir.Model of the black madonna in a souvenir shop window.

    Montserrat

    May 22, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Late start today - just as well as we slept till nearly seven. We had to meet at ten to catch our coach so we had a late, slow breakfast outside in a little courtyard next to the dining room. Montserrat is about an hour from the hotel. We took the 11.15 train up to the monastery. A guided tour, then free time before meeting for lunch at 1.15.
    The monastery was packed with people waiting to hear the choir which sings at 1pm each day. There was also a HUGE queue of people waiting to enter and touch the statue of the black madonna. Picture three shows the location high up in the far wall. Our guide told us that the black madonna dates back to the twelfth century and is black because of centuries of candle smoke.
    The monastery still operates(?) as a monastery and the monks run a school. Really, what I saw is a massive commercial enterprise with cafes and gift shops. In the window of one of the shops was a model of the black madonna (photo 5).
    Lunch was in a restaurant on Monserrat. It was a set three course menu, a salad entree and a duck main followed by cheese - far too much really.
    Because of the big lunch, we just wandered down the street later for a snack and then back to the hotel and pack our cases. Tomorrow we head off by coach at 8.30 for Arles, France.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    1Perpignan
    PerpignanPerpignan.PerpignanPerpignanCaptain's table dinner

    Off to France - Ooh La La

    May 23, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Left Barcelona by coach at 8.30am. and headed East along the Mediterranean coast towards France. E T A at Arles is about 4pm. We had a comfort / coffee stop about 10 and reached Perpignan for lunch.
    Perpignan is a lovely old town with lots of narrow roads lined with little shops and cafes. Janette had a salad and I had a roll. After a stroll around town it was back on board. Another comfort stop at 3pm and dockside about 4.30pm.
    Arles looks like a picture book place, but we'll have a good look at it tomorrow.
    Boarded, got our room and unpacked just in time to head down to the meet the captain and crew and the briefing for tomorrow.
    Having done a cruise before, we knew to book into the small restaurant at the back of the ship for a degastation dinner - see photos.
    Tomorrow we get a good look at Arles.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Marius Fabre soap factory.
    Roman gateway, Arles.Roman colluseum, Arles.Arles1Seafood buffet - feeding frenzy.1Gypsy Kings

    Arles

    May 24, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Visited the town of Salon and went to Marius Fabre, famous soap manufacturer still making soap the traditional way. They make 'pure' soap a la Sunlight and Velvet. They are famous for the purity of their soaps and also their green olive oil soap.
    Had a guided tour of Salon through its narrow winding streets and up to its castle. This is where Nostradamus lived so there is a statue, plaques and a re-creation of what they think his herb garden would have looked like. He was an apothecary so would have used many herbs.
    Had some free time to wander so Janette and I had our usual coffee. The lady was very patient with me while I ordered in French. When Janette went to pay the lady said “thank you very much”.
    Back to the ship by 1pm in nice time for lunch - a seafood buffet - see photo.
    3pm and a guided tour of Arles which just oozes history and Roman ruins. We entered through an old stone gate and wound our way through even more narrow winding streets. There is an amphitheatre, a theatre, baths and many, many beautiful homes which all retain their old character.
    Arles is where Vincent Van Gogh lived and worked for the last prolific year of his life. Many of his paintings depict houses in Arles.
    7pm - dinner - yet more food!
    9pm - up to the lounge to be entertained by the Gypsy Kings - amazing flamenco music.

    Tomorrow we se sail for Avignon at 4am.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Avignon city wall
    Palace of the Popes, Avignon.Palace of the Popes, Avignon.1Along a narrow lane in Avignon.Organ grinder with a dog instead of a monkey and a sleeping cat.1Evidence

    Sur la pont d'Avignon

    May 25, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We docked in Avignon at 8am and went on a guided tour at 9 for about 1.5 hours. What a lovely place! It is a walled city which had 4 gates and now there are 8. One of the extra 4 is near the area where the ships dock. That means it's not as far for us tourists to walk into town.
    As can be seen by our photos, the weather so far has been great. We expected cool and wet - it's been warm and dry so far.
    Avignon, like Salon and Arles has a maze of narrow streets full of shops and cafes. It is also referred to as the 'City of Popes' as from from 1309 several Popes lived here instead of Rome. Pope Clement V was the first and he built the Palace of the Popes. The tour guide took us through the Popes Palace and then we had free time to wander around.
    First stop was a sidewalk cafe where we had coffee. Then a walk around the streets and check out the shops. Being Saturday, there are lots of market stalls as well. Janette managed to find a lovely little jewellery shop with jewellery home made by the owner - surprise surprise.
    In the main square there was nice music coming from the organ grinder. When I was a boy, the organ grinder always had a dancing monkey - this guy had a sleepy dog and an even sleepier cat.
    We have an APT signature experience tonight - we leave for the Pont du Gard at 5pm - more to follow....    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Early evening
    Late eveningView from part way up.Water channel at the top.We climbed to the top!Le Pont d'Avignon - only four arches surviving.

    Now, that's a bridge!

    May 25, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Off again at 5pm for the Pont du Gard - a massive Roman aquaduct. This really needs to be 'googled' to get a good explanation of what the Romans achieved. From the right hand side of my photo, from a spring there, water was channelled 50kms using only gravity. The aquaduct, from end to end, has a fall of only 2.5 cm.
    This venue was opened after hours exclusively for us, so no crowds. This outing involved climbing 90 steps and rough tracks to access the very top so that we could go into the channel at the top.
    It was quite a climb as a lot of the steps are very irregular - but we made it up with a bit of puffing and panting. We were taken up in groups of 20/25 by guides who explained its construction etc.
    On returning to the ground, we had champagne and canapés. As the light faded the aquaduct was illuminated - WOW!
    Then it was back to the ship in our coaches. Our guide led the bus in a couple of verses of Sur la pont d'Avignon. Someone asked her to sing and suggested an Edith Piaf song - she obliged - absolutely spine tingling!
    Back on board about 10, and we set sail again. A few hundred metres upstream we went slowly past the four remaining arches of Pont d'Avignon.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Serge teaching us about truffle growing.
    Amy at work.Getting a reward in exchange for the truffle she dug up.Chateau GrignanMadame de Sevigne shown holding a quill.Field of poppies

    Travel and truffle tasting

    May 26, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Travelled overnight and docked at Viviers at 7am. Left by coach for Grignan at 9. Today we chose to visit a truffle farm just outside Viviers. On arrival we went into a marquee and met Serge and his truffle dog Amy. Amy is a Lagotto Romagnolo, an italian breed. Prior to using this breed, Serge used Labradors.
    Serge gave us a crash course in truffles and truffle growing. Provence is the main truffle growing area in France and black truffles are the most valuable at 2000 euros per kg. The biggest one ever found was in Victoria, Australia- 1.5kg. The biggest Serge has found is 750gms.
    Serge uses white and evergreen oaks but linden, hazlenut and poplar can also be used. From acorn to truffle is 15 years. The acorns are grown in compost that has ground truffle in it so as to inoculate the roots with spores. From each batch, perhaps there might be only five that grow truffles. “Why is it so?” asked Serge “they can put a man on the moon, but they can't help us grow truffles. It shows that nature is mightier than man!”
    Out on the farm Amy demonstrated her ability to sniff out truffles, dig them up and take them to Serge. Having said that, she did eat one before he could stop her, much to the amusement of our group. The visit finished with a tasting and a glass of wine, then into town for a tour of the castle.
    Yes, we climbed that hill to see the castle and have a guided tour.
    The statue in my photo is of Madame de Sevigne who wrote many letters to her daughter, Madame de Grignan. These letters (1000+) give a witty and insightful window into the life of the French court in the seventeenth century. She is depicted holding a feather (quill) which would have been her pen. Grignan hosts a literary festival each year and people put large red feathers outside their buildings.
    The last photo shows a field of poppies on the outskirts of Viviers. Apparently it's a good year for poppies this year.
    Back on board by 1.15 in time for lunch at 1.30 - MORE FOOD. Set off again. We'll cruise to Tournon which we should reach by 9pm.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Engine 403
    Working very hardWater channel on right hand side of picture.Turning round to go backVineyard with poppies

    Train de Lardeche

    May 27, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Very relaxing day. After a scenic coach drive, we arrived at Gare de Tournon St-Jean - Tournon St.John Station. We watched as the little steam engine came around the carriages and reversed back to the front carriage. Once hooked up, we were ready to roll and off we went.
    The smell of the steam engine was very evocative of my childhood.
    We chuffed through the most picturesque countryside, up steep hills, along gorges, through a 265m long tunnel and over bridges. At the turn around point, local farmers had brought some produce to sell.
    The engine was turned around on a turntable and driven around to what had been the back of the train and hooked up for our descent.
    The last photo shows a small vineyard near the station. It might not be very clear, but there are patches of red. These are poppies and they are very significant. Poppies will not grow anywhere where chemicals have been used. Poppies growing among the vines indicates that no chemicals have been used. Locals will not buy wine from a vineyard without poppies.
    Back on board for 12.30 lunch and departure for Vienne - 7.30pm scheduled arrival time.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Oingt
    OingtOld beaujolais wine pressWine tasting lessonWine tastingSwans on the river.

    Winetasting in the Beaujolais region

    May 28, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Finally it's rained. It was pouring as we disembarked, boarded our coaches and all the way to our first stop, then all clear albeit a tad cooler.
    Today's choices for activities were - a visit to a snail farm and sampling snails and frogs legs or - a visit to a historic vineyard and sample the wines of the Beaujolais region.
    Much as I would have liked to try snails and frogs legs...... I can't help but have an image of millions of frogs in wheelchairs.
    On the way to the winery, we visited the little village of Oingt. I can't tell you how to pronounce that - even french people from other parts of France have difficulty. If we hadn't been told that this place is medieval and earlier, I would have said it had been recently built as a tourist attraction. It is so well maintained and clean - there's no litter or graffiti. I've said it before about the French - people have an obvious pride in where they live.
    Then on to the winery of Monsieur Paire sixth generation wine maker. He and his son went organic when his son came into the business. Wine in France is not named after the grape variety but by the region where it is grown. So M.Paire produces Beaujolais White, Beaujolais Rose and Beaujolais Red.
    M. Paire gave us a lesson in wine tasting and then poured a white which we had with a little cheese. This was followed with a young red and then an older red accompanied by petit sauci, a dry sausage (similar to salami).
    M. Paire presented in English. A few years ago he went to school and learnt English. This, it seems, is a very rare happening in older french men. He was charming and witty.
    Back on board at 1.15 for lunch and to sail to Collonges. There, tonight we have an APT Signature Experience - dinner at the Abbaye de Collonges. This is the restaurant of Paul Bocuse. More on that next time.
    Meanwhile we'll sit in the lounge and relax looking at the little towns and villages along the way. The other nice spectacle is the swans, sometimes in groups but mostly in pairs, sometimes with one on a nest or with cygnets in the water.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Oingt.
    Oingt.Oingt.Colombier-le-Vieux - near train turntable at Saint-Barthelemy-le-Plain.Grignan.Grignan.

    More of us

    May 28, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Can you believe it?
    We've had a complaint!
    Not enough photos with Janette and John in them.
    So, by popular(?) demand....

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    WOW!!!
    Waiters running up and down the stairs.Reception pre dinner.Reception area.Approach into Lyon.

    Dinner at Paul Bocuse's ,The Abbaye'

    May 28, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Dinner tonight was at The Abbaye. Whatever I write can't convey the experience to someone else. On arrival - champagne and nibbles in a hall with some old faiground pieces. In the photo of Janette, there is a red velvet curtain. Behind that is the dining area. We all gathered and as the curtains were opened, the massive organ started playing. You've never heard such a gasp from a group of people.
    The food and the service were top class, of course.
    One of our group had his birthday today. The waiters brought in a cake to the sounds of the organ playing happy birthday.
    Dessert was served by the waiters carrying several plates each and RUNNING down the stairs in the photo, running to the tables and then running back upstairs for more, accompanied all the time by very fast music on the organ. At the end one waiter staggered down the stairs with one plate - very funny!
    When the organ played Auld Lang Syne, we linked arms and sang, then went 'home'.
    Is there an expression that is better than wow?
    Again, I know I keep suggesting this, but google Abbaye restaurant Lyon or use this link and get the story of how this organ was walled up to save it during the war.
    https://www.bocuse.fr/en/abbaye.html
    The night finished with a short sail up to Lyon and a lovely light show on approach.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Old Lyon.
    Typically Old Lyon.The lovers - the male represents the Rhone River and the female represents the Saone River.Traboule doorway - Lyon.If a traboule doorway has a brass plaque, such as this one, you may enter.Paul Bocuse market

    Lyon - our new favourite place.

    May 29, 2019 in France ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Lyon is at the confluence of two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone (pronounced sone). The Lyonnais call them the lovers. The Saone is the smaller, slower, gentle river therefore the female. The Rhone is bigger, faster flowing, stronger therefore the male. They are often depicted as male and female figures.
    The Old Town is on the west side of the Saone. It has narrow streets (mostly cobbled) lined with old buildings. Along these streets are doors that open onto passageways. They open into a courtyard in the middle of the block. On the other side of the courtyard is another passageway that leads out to the next street. If there is a plaque at one of these doors, it means the public are welcome to enter and have a look. They all have a stone spiral staircase, a balcony and a well. They were used by the French Underground in WWII to move and hide people.
    Lyon has a tram system, and, because this area was once the centre of the silk industry, the trams have been designed to resemble a silkworm.
    The newer areas are on the east of the Saone, to the Rhone and across. So, from the west to the east, the age of the town gets younger.
    We had a guide show us around the town and then took us on a culinary tour in a huge indoor market - an up market market in fact - the Paul Bocuse market. There are markets all around town but this one, our guide said, is where she shops when her mother-in-law is coming for dinner. At the end of the tour we had a tasting at one of the stalls - 5 different dry sausage (salami), cheese, pastries and wine. Then some free time so we had a coffee in one of the little shops.
    Back to the ship for lunch at 1.30. - not more food!!!
    After lunch we walked along the river back to the old town - about a one hour walk for us after all the food we're eating. We just love the feel (the vibes). We saw at least three 'genuine' Irish pubs and there are little cafes and restaurants everywhere.
    Our guide had told us, and we certainly saw for ourselves, the Lyonnais don't respond to your “bonjour” like people further south - they take a while to warm to people.
    Dinner tonight was a farewell dinner as we leave this ship tomorrow, Thursday. We will pack tonight as our cases have to be outside our cabin door by 6am. I think we leave at 7.30 to catch the very fast train to Paris    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    1T G V - very fast train - 391kms in 1 hr 53 min.
    One of the 37 bridges across the River Seine in Paris.Notre Dame after the recent fire.The best views of the Eiffel Tower are from the River Seine.AmaLyra - our new home for the next seven days.Our berth in Paris

    It just gets better..

    May 30, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Up at 5am to have our bags out for collection by the crew at 6am. Down to the dining room for breakfast and on a bus to the railway station at 7.30. Phew!
    The very fast train (the TGV) left at 8.51 and we were in Paris before 11.00am - 391kms at up to 300kph and smooth as. Onto a bus and a siteseeing drive around Paris. As with our visit two years ago, it's a public holiday so the roads are fairly quiet. We passed a square which until today was called Alma Square. It's above the tunnel where Princess Diana died and it's become a shrine. From today it will be known as Princess Diana Square.
    We travelled up the Champs Elysees and around the giant roundabout that surrounds the Arch de Triumph. The Arch contains the body of the unknown soldier. Every night at six a flame is lit. This has happened since 1919, even managing to continue through WWII.
    At the end of the tour we boarded a river cruiser for lunch and a cruise on the Seine (pronounced senn) up to Notre Dame and back. We were all expecting nibbles or a buffet but APT did it again - a full sit down, three course meal, with wine of course, served to the table.
    There were so many 'wows' and people rushing out to take pictures. Some of the bridges are works of art and you get a great view of Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral has a lot of scaffolding due to the recent fire. Also, they have already taken out all the windows as they did in WWII.
    On to our new home fo the next week, the AmaLyra (previously on the AmaCello). We sat in the lounge to await our turn to register at reception. I just had to take a picture of Janette with the Eiffel Tower in the background - we are within walking distance.
    The new ship is pretty well identical to the last one and we're in the same cabin, so very easy.
    The Captain will welcome us all aboard at 6.30 with a cocktail and a rose fo each lady, then dinner - more food.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Bow camera
    Bow camera later.

    You decide

    May 31, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Not too sure about this one.
    In each room there is a TV and the first channel is the bow camera. This is especially nice if 'one is in one's cabin' during sailing. The picture of it here shows how close we are 'parked' to the tower. The tower is lit in the evening and as it grew darker, the tower appeared brighter.
    We were given a heads up from our cruise director that there is a light show every hour, on the hour. A group of us went 'up top' just before 10pm to view this spectacular. Sure enough, right on time, it started.
    It seems there is a string of very bright white lights down each corner edge of the tower and these were flashing furiously. I took a video, but photos just come out very glary.
    In my mind I have an image of the Eiffel Tower. It really is nice that it is lit in the evening. BUT while watching the 'light show' couldn't help but think that this icon has been turned into a bloody big sparkler - very crass.
    As the show finished, a waitress from the bar arrived. The cruise director had ordered schnapps for us.
    A votre sante - Cheers!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    They built this while their people were starving.
    The Hall of Mirrors.1

    Chateau de Versailles

    May 31, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    9am bus again to go to the Palace of Versailles.
    There were people queueing and our guide said by the size of the queue, some of them would have to wait three hours to get in. Because it was a public holiday yesterday, Thursday, many people have taken the Friday off as well to make a long weekend - just like we would. They call it a bridge - meaning it's a bridge between the Thursday and the weekend.
    The beauty of being in a group is that you have a designated time - 10.15, in we went.
    What a crush? Thousands of people shuffling around trying to take pictures.
    We found the building opulent, ostentatious, obscene... room after room after room - it just became overload. The gardens are amazing but after shuffling through the Palace, we only had half an hour left to have a quick look.
    Tonight it's a girlie show - so bring on the dancing girls.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John

    The Lido, Paris

    May 31, 2019 in France ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    11.30pm and we've just arrived back from the Lido having watched a 1.5 hour show featuring the Bluebell Girls. No photography inside means not many photos this time.
    We are absolutely beat. Just as well we sail at midnight and we'll sail until lunchtime tomorrow so an easy morning tomorrow.Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Monet's house

    Monet's garden

    June 1, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    30 degrees C today!!!
    Leisurely morning sailing to Vernon where we docked at lunchtime. 1.30, coach to Monet's place at Giverny. We were warned that because it is so popular and it is a public holiday weekend, it might be as busy as Versailles was. It wasn't - it was busier! We did the French tourist shuffle - not a new dance but a way to get around attractions while getting up close and personal with everyone else there.
    Giverny is a pretty little village that Monet noticed from the train one day. He and some other artists moved there and then others did the same. It became an artists' village.
    Monet was as passionate about gardening as he was about painting. Our group's guide today elected to view the garden first and then the house. We were really pleased as it was the garden that we really wanted to see. We joined on to the snake made up of thousands of people and we did the shuffle - but we're so pleased we did. When we got to the house, there was a huge queue, so we elected to go for a wander on our own back into the village.
    The shutters on Monet's house are painted green. This colour has become known as Monet green. It is said that anyone can go into any paintshop in France, ask for Monet green and get that exact colour.
    Monet started off drawing caricatures. One day a painter told him he had talent, put a paintbrush in his hand, and Monet never drew another caricature. When his eyesight was failing he saw with a pink haze. A friend convinced him to try cataract surgery. It was new surgery then, he was sceptical but he tried one eye, it worked so he had the other eye done. However he still had the pink haze. That influenced much of his later painting.
    We now want a garden like his.
    Back to the ship and sailing again by 5.30.
    Dinner, then up on the sun deck till 10.15 - lovely warm night.
    We dock at 5.30am in Caudebec-en-Caux and after breakfast we're going to walk into town for a sticky.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Rebuilt using what they could recycle from the bombings.
    1Car boot sale along the river bank.1

    Caudebec-en-caux

    June 2, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    A very busy, very full day so I'll do three posts to cover morning, afternoon and evening.
    After breakfast, Janette and I went for a walk around this lovely little town. It seems to be one of the few places yet to be fully impacted by tourism. This was highlighted by the fact that there was a car boot sale / flea market along the riverfront. It could be Oz except the toy cars were all left hand drive. If (when) it gets more touristified, I reckon all the Sunday morning stalls will be selling tourist goodies instead of 'garage sale stuff'.
    80% of this town was destroyed by allied bombing in WWII. After the war, when rebuilding started, there were no building materials available so they recycled all they could from the rubble. That's why many of the rebuilds still look old
    The 'en-Caux' part of the town name is quite common in Normandy - it means 'on chalk'.
    Back to the ship for a brunch ready to board coaches again for the next tour.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Honfleur
    Viking ship for a roof.

    Back in time - Honfleur

    June 2, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Honfleur really is like stepping back in time in the old quarter. It is a port town not far from the mouth of the Seine. It wasn't bombed at all during WWII so there are amazing old buildings. We had the usual guided tour to tell us the history and to see the main sites, then plenty of free time to wander around on our own. We had been warned there may be huge crowds again, but there weren't.
    Much of the town was renovated / rebuilt by the vikings. The picture of the church interior shows the roof. The vikings were sailors not church builders, so when they were asked to rebuild the church, they didn't know how to build the roof. The answer? Build a boat and upturn it on top of the walls.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnRomantic Rhone and SeineJanette and John
    Who could turn down an invitation like this.
    Le Palais Benedictine.In the museum.Nibbles at Le Palais Benedictine.Now that's my kind of buffet.Norman dinner in the Abbott Hall.

    Benedictine - my new favourite drink.

    June 2, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Tonight was yet another APT Signature experience - meaning an APT exclusive. A visit to Le Palais Benedictine, a benedictine monastery, for us alone this evening. About an hour to wander around the amazing museum and sample Benedictine liqueur - I could consider giving up guinness - perhaps.
    Google Palace Benedictine to see more.
    Dinner in the massive Abbott hall followed - incredible.
    To top off a wonderful night, we each received a small bottle of Benedictine as a memento.
    Back to the ship at 11. A really early start tomorrow to go to Normandy.    Read more

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