By: Michael Walstrom, Senior Travel Consultant
France – We arrived a few days early and booked 2 nights in Nice and a night in Marseille. Avalon was wonderful and the meals were excellent complemented by phenomenal service. We were in a panorama cabin (French balcony).
Day 1 We started with a private transfer arranged by Avalon from Marseille to Arles to board the Avalon Poetry and then walked to the old city. The staff onboard was excellent and after a champagne toast and safety briefing we enjoyed an excellent dinner followed by mingling in the lounge.
Day 2 Port St. Louis – for a tour of a family owned oyster farm in the Camargue Natural Park. This was fabulous and we enjoyed some of the best oysters of our lives along with delicious French wine.
Day 3 We were back in Arles for a Guided Sightseeing Tour, including a visit with a local bullfighter. The small yet picturesque old town was enjoyable to enjoy wine and cheese. After lunch we headed to the beauty of Saint-Rémy in the heart of Provence with a stop at the Asylum where Van Gogh spent a year of his life.
Day 4 Auvignon – was one of our favorite stops as we visited a family operated farm producing essential oils and learned how they are created. We followed this by a wine tasting at a traditional winery in Châteauneuf du Pape. In the evening we went into the walled city for dinner on our own at an exquisite cafe.
Day 5 Viviers – was a drive to the countryside for an underground wine tasting—under the direction of an expert Speleologist (cave guide) and an oenologist (wine-making expert). We hiked down into an amazing 500 million year old cave where we tasted a few different wines which are stored in the caves while in complete darkness.
Day 6 Tournon -Tain-l’Hermitage was a morning hike with wine tastings in the picturesque vineyards surrounding the twin cities of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage followed by an afternoon sailing to Lyon.
Day 7 Lyon – started off with a guided Culinary Walk through Lyon sampling chocolates, pastries, cheese and of course fabulous wine. In the afternoon we headed to the beautiful Beaujolais wine region for a visit to a local vineyard as well as an excellent wine and cheese tasting.
Day 8 This morning, we said goodbye to the crew and boarded the TGV train to Paris to continue our wonderful France vacation. (P.S. Paris was fabulous as always)