ADVENTURE IN FRANCE (Part3) The Riviera

The first morning in Cannes we had a real continental breakfast. Bill was in heaven.

One of the famous Riviera beaches (not as good as Queensland beaches)
The rich and famous play things.

We walked up a steep hill into The Old Town
View of Cannes from The Old Town

Walking down through the narrow streets

David and Carol checking out the menu for the night's dinner.
Narrow streets lined with restaurants. An unbelievable choice.
The spice stall at the local markets.

The Grande Theatre of Cannes Film Festival fame.

Nice's aqua sea.
Ouch! Pebble beach of Nice.


Another adventure over.

ADVENTURE IN FRANCE (Part 2) PARIS

Paris is an exotic, expensive, beautiful city, with interesting things to see around every corner. We stayed at the Regina Hotel.
The view from our room

Artists at Monmartre
Sacre Coer Church
Notre Dame

Paris Opera House
Lourvre

View from the Eiffel Tower
Av.des Champs-Elysees

ADVENTURE IN FRANCE (Part 1) Wine Tour-Burgundy

One of our most memorable trips was a wine tour in France which included a 6 day barge cruise on the canals. We started the tour from Zurich and went by coach through the Jura Mts to Gray the gateway to the Burgundy Wine Region. On the way we visited the Swiss Rado watch factory, the famous Ranchamp Chapel designed by La Corbusier and had lunch in the quaint town of St Ursanne.

Rado watch factory

Ranchamp Chapel

St Ursanne

We stayed overnight at The Chateau de Rigny, it was like going back in time.

A Burgandy vineyard

The next day we drove to Dole and Dijon. In Dole we visited the Louis Pasteur museum and had the longest baguette for lunch.

A 400 year old house in Dijon

We did a walking tour of Dijon and visited the Mustard Museum. We stayed overnight at the Chapeau Rouge Hotel. The next day we drove to Montrachet.

Le Montrachet

We stayed here for 2 nights and spent the days visiting many wineries. Then we continued on to Beaune. Where we visited the Hospices called Hotel Dieu, which is museum of a hospital for paupers. It is a 15th century Gothic masterpiece. Then we drove onto St Mammes to board the barge.

Hotel Dieu (hospices)

This was exciting!

The barge company also have a small coach which takes us into nearby towns. After exploring St Mammes we went to Moret sur Loing famous for being the home of many famous artists. We watched them at work and then returned to the barge.

Cruising down the canal to Nemours
Tie up for the night
Slowly down the canal
Stop off for a trip to Vaux Le Vicompte Chateau.
Entering a lock


Inside the lock.
The lock keeper.
The barge goes so slow that you can get off and walk or ride a bike to the next lock. Fun! Fun!
Dining room on the barge.

We visited the medieval city of Auxere and more vineyards between Cepoy, Montbouy,Rogny stopping to see more Chateaus and museums. Everyday we had beautiful meals with french wines and cheeses. It was gourmet bliss. We continued onto Briare seeing the famous staircase of 6 locks.

The famous canal aqueduct which is a canal on a bridge over the River Loire built by Gustave Eiffel.

This was the end of the barge trip and then we went by coach to Paris.

ADVENTURE IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

A few years ago we met up with our wine tour group in Bilboa in Spain and then toured with them through the vineyards and towns of Spain and Portugal.

The Rambler, the main street in Barcelona

We visited La Pedrera in Barcelona. Gaudi, a famous spanish architect designed this apartment block in the early 1900's.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Bilbao

colourful street scene in Hondarribia

Bodegas Talai-Berri vineyard near Zarautz

San Sebastian a famous seaside resort ( can't beat Queensland beaches)

The Wind Comb sculptures by Edwardo Chillida

San Sebastion

Pamploma streets where they have the running of the bulls.

Douro Valley Portugal


We had lunch at the Pousada Solar de Rede

Inside the Pousada

Traditional way of pressing the grapes in Portugal

Pousada De Santa Marinha at Guimaraes in Portugal

Oporto Portugal wine casks are brought down the river on these boats

Salamanca a university town in Spain

Avilla a medievil walled city in Spain

Roman aqueduct in Segovia Spain

Lunch at Hostel del Cardenal in Toledo. Paela, what else?

It was raining in Madrid so no pics but we visited 3 major art galleries. The history in Spain and Portugal is mind blowing. We loved Portugal and its people and it was another great adventure before dementia.