Bordeaux to Paris

We enjoyed a walk along the Garonne River and lunched at a market. Then to Cadillac for winery tour and dinner.  On to the Loire valley with a tour of the chateau of Blois. Cognac tasting. Overnight in Blois and then to Paris stopping at Chambord in the fog.  An afternoon in Paris farewell dinner and group picture I front of the Eiffel Tower. 

On to Bordeaux

After leaving Lourdes we traveled north to Bordeaux stopping at a winery in St. Emilion for a tasting. Two wines one a regional and one a premier cru. The mix was mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc the blending grapes.  Had a chance to do some exploring of the city. Charming but crowded as it was the Saturday of a long weekend. On to our hotel in Bordeaux with a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Carcassonne to Lourdes

Walking tour of city and then time to wander and find lunch. Left for Lourdes around 1:00. Upon arrival we had an orientation tour of the shrine to the Virgin Mary including the basilica and the grotto.  A young girl, Bernadette saw an apparition at the grotto that appeared to her several times. That evening we participated in the nightly candle light procession.

October 27

Our destination today was Carcassonne, a medieval town. On the way we stopped for a brief tour of Avignon, the home to the pope for a millennium.  Wandered the town but didn't have time to go into the pope's palace. Back on the bus to the Pont du Garde, a Roman aqueduct. Finally arrived in Carcassonne around 6.  Long bus ride.

Oct 26 Antibes

Visited the old town and the Picasso Museum in Antibes. Picasso worked at the museum during 1946 so these were the artworks we viewed with our guide.  Also stopped at a market where we acquired provisions for our evening picnic.  Champagne, cheese, baguette, fruit.  And then a pastry quest.

Lyon to Juan les Pines

Walking tour of the old quarter of Lyon plus a bus tour of a mountain top basilica. Lyon is where the Saone and Rhone rivers meet. On the driver to the Cote d'Azure we left the highway and drove on the Napoleon Road, the route he took to Paris after his escape from Elba. We drove through the Alps to out lunch stop in Sisteron. Stopped in Grasse to visit a perfumery. Drove through Cannes on our way to Juan les Pines.

Champagne and Burgundy

From Paris we went to Epernay, the Champagne capital to taste a bit of bubbly. Mercier winery. I bought a demi-bottle to celebrate our 29th anniversary of our meeting on a bike trip to the Loire. On to Dijon.  Mustard. Next day to Beaune, center of the Burgundy region.  Tasted two red wines (a premier cry and a regional burgundy) and a white- an excellent Mersault.

France

We have been in France since October 21--a week. I have had some technical difficulties getting on line.  That coupled with the pace of the trip, has me way behind with posts.  Spent two days in Paris. Our hotel was a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. Our first stop was to ride the elevator to the second level for a view of Paris.  Later we took a boat ride on the Seine and saw the tower lit up. City tour by bus the next day. Then we were off on our own to wander to the Place de Bastille and the Esplanade des Plantee, a park on an old rail bed and the inspiration for New York's High Line park. 

Airport

Waiting in the Amsterdam airport for our flight home. A few more photos. Our ship, the Viking Vidar.  Along the Rhine in Heidelberg. The mechanical horological clock in the Strasbourg cathedral.

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Colmar

A medieval town in France, near Basel. Basel is where France Germany and Switzerland meet. Very charming even though it was raining. 

Basel, Switzerland

Thursday we landed in Basel, the terminus of our trip. We had a walking tour of the city. During our free time I went to the art museum, which according to our guide is rated number 5 in the world. They had just completed a new modern wing so that was where I spent my 2 hours. Below the two flags represent Basel and Switzerland. The second photo is the Baselisk, a mythical mascot of Basel which was made famous by Harry Potter. 

Black Forest

Explored the Black Forest on Wednesday. Lush landscapes and cuckoo clocks. 

Strasbourg

Half timbered houses, canals, gothic cathedral. 

Heidelberg

Visited Heidelberg castle and the old town. The castle is in ruins but reflects several centuries of building and many many rulers. Castle on the hill. Ruins with in the castle.

Castle from a town square. 

Middle Rhine

Cruising the Middle Rhine

Started the day with a tour of Marksburg Castle, one of the oldest on the Rhine. Then we spent a lazy and relaxing day cruising the Middle Rhine. This the section of the river with all the hillside castles. Not sure I can remember which is which but I'll load some pics in the next post or two. The one below is Marksburg. 

Canal boat cruise in Amsterdam

We spent Thursday in Amsterdam as day one of our Viking cruise. Our included activity was a canal cruise. After we went off on our own stopping at the Hermitage museum and the science museum.  Pic above is Doug being one of the kids at the science museum making a paper airplane. Below--canals and bridges

Cologne

This is the cathedral in Cologne. Very impressive. We had an extensive tour inside the Dom as it is called. Stopped at a beer garden to sample the local brew.

On Board

On Wednesday we boarded our ship, the Viking Vidar. Earlier we went to a free noon-time concert at the Concert Gebouw, a piano and trombone duo. Got settled and then went on a walking tour of Amsterdam. Actually learned a few new things. 

Keukenhof Gardens

The Keukenhof Gardens are where the tulips are.  Open only two months a year, it is a profusion of color--tulips of all varieties over several acres.  We meandered for our allotted three hours (we took a tour) enjoying the color and the quiet. Below: selfie with flower fields behind us; tulips and more tulips.

Sunday's jaunt

Many museums.  The Tropen museum which tells the story of the Dutch in Indonesia.  We walked through where a street market is usually held but it was all closed up because it was Sunday. On the the Resistance Museum, the Holocaust Memorial and the Portuguese Synagogue.  But wait there's more--the Scheepvaart museum.  Translated-the ship museum. Below is the mast of a replica of a Dutch East Indies ship. Lots of miles on tired legs.  Doug took pity and we took the tram back to the hotel.

Amsterdam

Sitting in the cafe at the rijksmuseum resting both my feet and my eyes. This has been my museum marathon day, starting with Van Gogh then the modern art museum and now here. Doug is off on his trek around the city. This is day four of our trip. We left Thursday, April 28 in the evening, arrived on Friday, got the train from the airport to Amsterdam and then walked to our hotel lugging our bags behind us. A little rain and sleet never hurt anyone, did they? Dropped our bags at the hotel and headed to the rijksmuseum for a couple of hours of looking at art--a bit sleep deprived but we took in quite a lot. I am back today to fill in some of the exhibits I missed. 

A typical canal view.  Saturday was a walking tour of the Jordaan district.  Went to a street market and an old church and zagged and zagged through the old town.

This one of the canal boats that tours the canals.  It is one the schedule for our Viking cruise in a couple of days.  After all our walking we landed back at our hotel which is located in the museum district.