Sunday, October 30, 2016

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.


Saturday, October 29, 2016

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.

Friday, October 28, 2016

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.