France
Our second trip to Europe in 2016 was to France for 4 weeks—our longest vacation ever. We started in Paris on our own, then met with friends for a private, 7-day, canal barge trip in Burgundy, and returned to Paris for 1 night. Rick then drove us to the Champagne region, Normandy Coast, Loire Valley (met friends again), then back to the Paris airport and home to CA. This wide-ranging trip of art, culture, history and food was wonderful!
Loire Valley–Famous for Chateaux & Formal Gardens
Our 2nd from last stop in France was the Loire Valley, famed for its Chateaux, elaborate gardens, historic towns, and vineyards AND as of 2000, the central valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Glorious Chateaux and Gardens. On our way to Amboise to meet 1 of the...
Famous Mont Saint-Michel & Chartres Cathedral–Distant Yet Similar to Each Other
Taking the advice of a friend and Rick Steves’ guidebook, we overnighted on Mont Saint-Michel. Please read OUR BLOG about the semi-unpleasant experience with parking far away, our hotel, and dinner. But we enjoyed our visit to the actual Abbaye du Mont...
Normandy Coast: Honfleur, Bayeaux, & D-Day Beaches
For us, the Normandy Coast’s World War II D-Day Beaches and Museums was the highlight of our France trip. Our 1st D-Day stop was at the excellent Au Memorial de Caen with amazing films and exhibits which detail global events leading to WWII through the war then giving...
Reims in the Champagne Region then Briefly Rouen
On Sunday, October 9, we picked up our rental car to drive northeast for a couple of hours to Reims (mysteriously pronounced “rance”) in the Champagne region, where we visited 3 main sights. First was the Reims Cathedral--with lovely stained glass windows—which is...
Nenuphar Barge on Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy Region
Our whole trip to France was built around a barge cruise on the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy with Rick’s business school friends. On Sunday, Oct. 2nd, all six couples boarded a bus to reach Venarey-Les-Laumes, our starting point, from where we’d travel north to...
Paris–Still the City of Lights
Despite the recent troubles in this city, Paris is still magical, still the “City of Lights.” Rick and I mostly walked across, up and down, Left to Right Bank and back again, with a few rides on the Metro and in taxis thrown in. We ate wonderful food every night...
France Travelogue from September 25 to October 20 2016
PARIS from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 and Oct. 8 to 9, 2016 Friends who frequently stay in Paris recommended Duc de Saint Simon Hotel. It's on a quiet street with lots of good restaurants nearby (in Saint Germain district) and close to Metro stops as well as a 20-minute walk...
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