Slow morning, got to chat with the kids just as they were going to bed so that was nice, then spoke with the adults as well. Caught up on the news in Melbourne including the prediction of snow in Ringwood. Hmm, it was cold here today as well, 25c. Never mind. Off to the trams today to do some city touring. Brunch first then away we go. Go to the new wine museum built last year. It resembles the swirl of wine in a glass, very trendy but at €20 to do a tour, not on. Wandered a bit then back on the tram and into the exchange to another line which takes us to ABC. Interesting church, then we wander down the main shopping street. Bit ordinary but worth the visit. Another church then another ... read more

Wake early after a restless night - aircon not great and quite noisy. Find out later we had the window open so noise was coming in that way. Go down earlier than we need so we can catch up with the others before they leave at about 0800. Get into the restaurant and they have seats together and there is another one as well. We ask if we can sit there. Waiter says it is dirty but we don't mind. Finally agrees and we get to chat which is nice. Time is up so we do hugs, etc. It has been great fun with all of them (our tribe as we were labelled). Finish breakfast with lots of the ship people slipping in or out. Meet the tour director who tells me he has had a ... read more

Slow start, breakfast then we are off to another town in the Burgundy region for another town and wine tasting. Find out that the Burgundy region produces 65% of its wine as Charonnay and the other 35% as Pinot Noir. Hmmmm..... Anyway, we are the first for the wine tasting. Not too sure about this as a bit dusty from last night. We get to the wine house after many cobbled stone streets, then wait. Wait. Wait. Turns out the wine guide has the wrong time. Eventually we are in with a very frustrated tour guide. Tour starts with the General Manager talking to us. Down into some really good cellars that are not dressed up for tourists, then up again for tastings with the real wine tour guide. Apologies and we start tasting with a ... read more

Floated from 0600. Nice way to wake up. Arrived at Belleville. Not much around the port but we have 3 hours before our arranged trip so let's do a walk. They have a local market day which turns out to be really good. To get to the centre of town we have to walk along the major road into Belleville. Very busy and the footpaths are very narrow. Lots of close semis and cars but we survive, even crossing over the A6 motorway under us. Market is good, standard stuff, clothes, shoes, wallets and watches along with the butcher and deli people and then the fromergeries. Gee they know how to do cheeses here. Back for lunch, feeling a bit hungry as breakfast was slow after our rich dinner last night. Then off to the Beaujolais ... read more

I think everyone was waiting at breakfast to see the outcome of last nights incidents. Turns out the noisy one was greeted with a good morning by one of the crew and said no it's not, bloody hangover. Probably can't remember what happened... Much more discussion about what happened then we are onto a bus early as we have about 1.5 hrs to drive to our first destination. We are heading into the Alpes area near the Swiss border to an old Abbey called Abbey de Hautcombes. Motorway for the most of the trip but then we get into the backstreets. Tiny roads for 3 big buses to travel along and some of the villages were tiny as well. Nice last a it as we climbed the hills. Finally got there and this abbey is on ... read more