Geo: 45.7482, 4.83235Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France, actually lies in a little peninsula between the Rhône and Saone rivers. It was founded more than 2,000 years ago and is today the second largest city in the country. This morning we had breakfast on the deck as our boat sailed to Lyon. We enjoyed a walking/motor coach tour which included a trip up Fourviere Hill. At the top you can visit the Basilique de Notre-Dame and gaze out over the cities rooftops, past the two Rivers to the vineyards beyond. We also spent time walking through the old town and visiting the shops.This afternoon silk merchants demonstrated how fine silk scarves are made. They brought some beautiful scarves inspired by artists. I even got to paint on a scarf. Our next and final stop is in ... read more

Geo: 45.0696, 4.83172I think this has been my favorite day so far. After breakfast we took a walking tour of Viviers, One of the best preserved medieval towns in southern France. The old town is situated on a hill overlooking the river with narrow winding cobblestone streets that climb from lower town to the upper town. In the center of the old town is St. Vincent cathedral, the smallest active cathedral in France. Dating back to the 12th century the cathedral is a blend of Romanesque flamboyant Gothic and 18th century architectural styles. Our guide is a resident of this town and had many humorous stories to share about the politics of a small community. At noon our ship cast off and headed for Tournon. We had lunch on board along with a cooking demonstration and ... read more

Geo: 43.9486, 4.80597Today we did a walking tour of Arles and an excursion to unspoiled Camargue. This small town located on the banks of the river Rhone is a mix of ancient and traditional and modern. This UNESCO world heritage site has beautifully preserved Roman architecture and numerous Romanesque monuments. Excavation at the amphitheater uncovered many artifacts including the Venus d Aries which is now displayed at the Louvre. Arles was critical to the emergence of Christianity in France; the cities bishopric began with Saint Trophimus in 25 A.D. The church that bears his name, built between the 12th and 15th centuries, is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. Vincent Van Gogh who lived here for a while immortalized in vibrant colors many of the cities highlights. Next we took an excursion to unspoiled Camargue, the ... read more

Geo: 29.5994, -95.1257Flying from Houston to Amsterdam to Marseilles France, we were met by Viking where we were then transported in a Mercedes Benz Motor coach (I might add) to our point of embarknation in Avignon, France. We were warmly greeted by the Viking Delling staff and enjoyed a buffet lunch in the beautifully appointed longship. Because of high water and flooding, we have been switched from our original boat to the sistership that is identical. Beautifully appointed with Scandinavian decor, it is light bright and airy. We will be on this ship for five days and we will transfer once again for the remaining part of this week. A buffet lunch was served in the ship restaurant on arrival. We left on Tuesday, June 21 and arrived on Wednesday, June 22. T hat makes for ... read more

Geo: 21.1478, -86.835We drove to Cancun today and had lunch at the Ritz Carlton. Pretty fancy place. Enjoyed exploring this beautiful hotel. The city is much bigger than I anticipated and we were lost for awhile. The beaches are beautiful.... read more