PARIS’ OPERA DISTRICT is a place you might head to for a walk on your free afternoon (Day 2) –
the home to some of Paris’ many urban jewels. It’s a place meant for strolling along grand boulevards lined with trees; for eating, drinking and socializing in chic restaurants, cafés and clubs; for shopping at les grand magazins like Galleries Lafayette and Printemps; for ogling haute couture in the boutiques of rue du Fauborg; for admiring the bejeweled windows of rue de la Paix; for a bit of history at Place Vendôme, where Napoleon I stands high on a column of sculpted bronze, or at the Olympia Concert Hall, where Edith Piaf sang her way to legendary fame; for a change of pace in the Tuileries gardens; or for a touch of brilliance at Palais Garnier, the opera house setting for the fictional The Phantom of the Opera.
French gastronomic capital and a center of youthful design and futuristic architecture. After boarding ms Swiss Emerald in Lyon, join us for a Captain’s welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the week ahead in festive fashion. Meals BD
4. LYON OLD & NEW / BEAUJOLAIS TASTES You’ll see for yourself why Lyon is a place to eat well today on a tour that includes a tasting lunch at Les Halles de Lyon. This indoor food market offers an unbelievable array of breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, sausages, spices, poultry, seafood, wines, chocolates and more... all fresh, delicious and attracting the crème of Lyonnaise chefs. With your fellow travelers you’ll
enjoy a sampling of these Lyonnaise delights, before returning to the ship for lunch. But Lyon’s treasures do not consist of “bread alone,” so sightseeing also includes a visit to Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the 19th-century Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. The afternoon brings an excursion to the Beaujolais wine region north of Lyon, where Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are grown. You’ll enjoy a tasting of some of these vibrant wines at a private estate and travel through the gentle hills of Beaujolais, dotted with villages of stone, medieval churches and narrow lanes. Meals BLD
5. WALLED VIVIERS
Overnight cruising continues this morning with an arrival about noon in Viviers, a walled city on the right bank of the Rhône. You’ll explore the heart of this lovely town with a local guide, seeing the petite 12th-century Cathédrale Notre Dame de Rhône at its center and the richly detailed facade of the Maison des Chevaliers, the home of a 16th-century salt merchant aiming to impress. Then join us for a chance to try your hand at playing a game of pétanque, an outdoor pastime meant to be shared with friends and a beloved tradition in southern France. Meals BLD
The Roman Pont du Gard, an awesome setting for dinner “en plein air.” 20
6. ARLES, FROM ROMAN TO VAN GOGH In Roman times, Arles was a happening place as a port city on the Rhône, a major political capital and an ardent center of religion. The Romans endowed Arles with a triumphal arch, circus, baths and an arena built to hold 10,000 spectators. By the time Vincent van Gogh settled here in 1888, however, Arles was a quiet and sleepy Provençal town. Fortunately, he found inspiration in the surrounding landscapes of yellow-tinted rock, red soil and lilac mountains; van Gogh’s time in Arles was one of his most productive periods. You’ll take a walking tour of the town where ancient and new coexist and visit its 1st-century
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100