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.