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Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 24, today we went to Chateau de Cormatin to visit the castle and gardens, built in the 17th century. Then we arrived in Macon. We had a spirit of France concert onboard.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 23, we arrived in Burgundy France. We drove to the town of Beaune, the epicenter of Burgundy wine production. We visited the Hotel-Dieu de Beaune, a former charitable almshouse, founded in 1443. We visited the Chateau de Rully for a wine tasting.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
On Aug 22, we had breakfast at the hotel, then took the train to Lyon. We embarked on the ship...room 211. We unpacked, then had orientation. Then we had dinner at compass rose. It was a tiring day.... but glad to be on the ship.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 21, today we took a city tour. We saw many of the famous sights. We then went to the Orsay museum. We had dinner at Le Capucine Cafe. Then we took a beautiful champagne cruise on the Seine.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
On Aug 20, we went to Moulin rouge and the red-light district. Then we took the petit train to Montmartre. We visited The Place du Tertre, known for the artists who paint tourists for pleasure and money, The Cimetière de Montmartre, The Moulin de la Galette .... a windmill and associated businesses, The Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, and we had lunch (mussels) at La Mere Catherine. For dinner we attended the Tauck dinner at Fouquet.
Re: Dogs...
Yes, the ‘stench’ is quite amazing. When you have perhaps a billion people or a portion thereof burning dried animal dung as a fuel the effects on the atmosphere are profound. How many windmills will we need to compensate for billions of people burning dung? I could often see the airport at Bombay (Mumbai) from a hundred thirty miles away, but I would sometimes get down to fifty feet above the runway and it would disappear in the dung smoke. Fortunately, it is difficult to miss the runway if you are on the centerline at fifty feet.
One of my favorite stories is about Madras (Chennai). I would land there late at night to deliver and pick up cargo. One night the driver did not show up to take me to the terminal for my flight planning and weather briefing. It was only a short distance so I decided to walk. After I returned the driver finally showed up, and I explained that I had already filed my flight plan as I had walked to the terminal. (Which was full of people sleeping on the floor.). And he said, “Didn’t the cobras bother you. At night they come out on the ramp and taxiways because they like the heat.”. After that I waited for the driver.
Sealord
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
On Aug 26, today we visited Vieux Lyon and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Forviere. Then we had lunch at Abbaye Collonges-Paul Bocuse. Then we left Lyon and docked in Sainte-Colombe.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 27 Today we toured the city of Vienne and visited the Roman museum.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 28 First of all....HAPPY BIRTHDAY Steve Gerstenschlager. Today we tour historic Avignon and the first Jewish settlement. Then we visit the Pont du Gard ancient Roman Aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River. and the museum. To end our day, we will have dinner at Duchy of Uzes.
Re: French escapade august 2024 trip report
Aug 29 We were still docked in Avignon today. We drove an hour to St. Remy-de Provence. We visited the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint Paul de Mausole that was turned into an asylum where Vincent Van Gogh was a patient. We also went to a wine tasting at Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
