France Archives - Unique Journeys LLC

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE A RIVER CRUISE?

Dec 11, 2019

DO YOU NEED A REASON TO CONSIDER TAKING A RIVER CRUISE? You’re in luck because I can supply you with some of the top reasons a river cruise makes sense for you, your family and friends.

1. ALLERGIC TO CROWDS?

If you have taken a cruise on an ocean cruise line, you have an idea of what a crowd is like. Most ocean-going ships today hold several thousand people. Not so with river cruises. The ships are designed to fit through the locks of Europe and consequently are much smaller and more intimate. This lends itself to an overall quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. Many travelers use this as an opportunity to get to know their fellow explorers and make new friends.

Great German beer and pretzels

2. LET’S TRY REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

Dining on a River Cruise is one of the highlights of your trip. Instead of mass produced food, there is often a five-star chef onboard preparing local cuisine with the freshest ingredients, which he has shopped for while in port. Imagine apple strudel in Austria,sausages, beer and pretzels while sailing through Germany and the great pastries of France. Along with the great regional cuisine, you will also be treated to the wines of the regions you are sailing through.

3. HOW ABOUT MORE TIME TO EXPLORE!

Sailing along a river has many benefits. The ride is often smoother, and there is always land in sight. Since distances are shorter, you spend more time exploring the towns and cities on your journey.

Along with the fact that you spend less time cruising, you also dock in most instances in the heart of the city, meaning you can start exploring just by going down the gangplank. Many of these towns are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you will be see not only beautiful sites, but historically significant ones as well. There are always complimentary shore excursions provided with local guides, and in some ports you have the option to take longer trips further from the ship for a fee.

4. GREAT NEW SHIPS

River cruising is the fastest growing segment of the cruise market and all the major cruise lines are launching new and innovative ships every year. This is great for you as a traveler, since you have so many choices of cruise lines, dates and itineraries.

5. ARE YOU A SOLO TRAVELER? TRY A RIVER CRUISE

Since most of the river ships carry under 200 passengers, you won’t feel left out if you are travelling alone. Dining is open seating and you are sure to be welcomed to join your fellow passengers for a meal. The lounge is also a great way to meet people. It is always open with people relaxing and enjoying the view out the large windows. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join in the conversations.

6. WHAT DO WINE, FLOWERS AND CHRISTMAS HAVE IN COMMON?

YOU GUESSED IT – THERE’S A CRUISE FOR THAT

You like wine, but have never experienced where the grapes are grown, the process of turning those grapes into the wine you enjoy. Now is your chance to see the whole process. There are wine-themed cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Rhone and even the Douro in Spain.

Flowers make everybody happy and you can’t get happier than the cruises through Holland during tulip time. Tulips as far as the eye can see, plus a day spent at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens where the tulips are spread over 70 acres. A feast for the eyes. As a bonus, you can indulge in some authentic beers, great cheeses and chocolates. You will also be mesmerized by the iconic windmills that have helped The Netherlands stay above water for centuries.

MAGICAL – that is the word to describe the Christmas Market cruises. The cities and towns on the Danube and Rhine rivers put on their shows at this time of year. You will be immersed in the rich culture and traditions and see families celebrating this holiday as they have done for generations. You can be part of this as you stroll through the booths, drinking Gluhwein and eating treats such as pretzels, sausages and gingerbread.

Enjoy your time on a river cruise ship

8. YOU ENJOY THE TIME ON THE SHIP

Unlike large ocean-going vessels, a river cruise ship travels at a slower pace and is never out of sight of land. This means you will always have great scenery to admire. Whether it’s a hillside filled with grape vines, the many castles which were built along the great rivers of Europe or the charming towns you will pass, you will always have photo opportunities and conversation starters. At various points along the way, your hotel manager will inform you of sights and history of the places you are gliding by.

9. DO YOU HAVE FAMILY/FRIENDS? YOU HAVE A GROUP

What can be better than enjoying a fabulous cruise? Enjoying it with your friends and family! Since the ships are smaller, you can create a group with fewer cabins.

Do you knit? Play Bridge? belong to a garden group? Get onboard and enjoy your cruise and your passions at the same time.

Now is the time to book your cruise so that you can get the best price and the cabin categories of your choice. River cruises are the fastest growing segment of the travel industry, so you need to secure your spot now. Call Unique Journeys and let’s get cruisin’

Paris: A City packed with fine art, architecture, shopping & sightseeing

Nov 30, 2016

Two days in Paris, the city of lights, is not enough time!

But… it was all the time we had. Our journey to Paris was the first leg of the AMA Waterway wine cruise package. After the two day journey in Paris, we headed to Bordeaux for a seven day riverboat cruise through the wine region. The trip ended with three glorious days in the Loire Valley. Even though two days in Paris isn’t enough time to see everything that was on our list, we did manage to pack in much as we could!

To describe Paris, to a Paris “virgin,” one has to define the layout of the city. The city of Paris is divided into arrondissements (administrative districts, or neighborhoods) which are situated on either the Right Bank (northern side) or the Left Bank (southern side) of the Seine. There are 20 arrondissements with the 1st located at the center of the city, on the Right Bank. The following arrondissements spiral outwards in a clock-wise direction. Most of the famous tourist attractions can be found in one of the central eight arrondissements.

Location, location, location!

Our hotel, the Crowne Plaza was located in the Republique Neighborhood, on the right bank, between the 3rd, 10th & 11th arrondissements. It is a lovely neighborhood that surrounds a central plaza, the Place de République. The plaza is lined with restaurants, pubs and pâtisseries, (bakeries) all within walking distance of our hotel.

A 31′ bronze statue of Marianne, the Goddess of Liberty sits in the center of the plaza. Marianne is surrounded by three statues representing Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (liberty, equality fraternity), the values of the French Republic.

Getting around Paris was easy. There were buses and cabs that stopped right outside the front door of our hotel, and a Metro station less than a half a block away. We either walked or took the Metro, which was an absolutely stellar transportation system. I found that people in France, don’t tell you how many miles or kilometers you are from your destination; they tell you how long it takes to walk there.

Day One in Paris

Dealing with jet lag is tough, but we still had a great first day in Paris. We opted to take a 30 minute walk to the Seine so we could purchase day passes for the Batobus; a hop-on-hop-off tour boat that cruises the river. The day passes allowed us to get on and off at as many stops as we wanted.

We hopped on at the Hôtel de Ville, did a half circle cruise around the city and then and hopped off at he Museum de Orsay. This converted train station/museum is smaller than the Louvre, but loaded with fabulous works of art. After returning to our stop at the Hôtel de Ville, we decided the Metro was a better choice for our return trip back to the Republique neighborhood, where we found a charming and affordable restaurant just off the main drag, full of local diners. After dinner we limped back to the hotel for a great night’s sleep!

Statue of St. Louis, founder of Sainte Chapelle

Day Two – Our Final Day in Paris

We kicked the second day in Paris off at a lovely pâtisserie, where we dined on croissants, fresh squeezed orange juice and cappuccinos. On to the Metro station for day passes which cost only €14 each (around $15). The journey then led us to the fabulous Notre Dame Cathedral, on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine. From Notre Dame, we headed to Sainte Chapelle, a royal chapel, known for it’s incredible stained glass windows, also located on the Île de la Cité. What amazed us is both — these Gothic structures were built without the equipment or technology that we have today, and they’re still standing!

What is a trip to Paris without a visit to Ladurée, the grande dame of Paris pâtisseries, where the Macaron Mania began? Of course we weren’t going to let this opportunity pass… Hunger set in after the cathedral visits, so we headed to the Champs Elysée, where we found our pâtisserie and cafe. We enjoyed lunch and a well deserved rest. The meal was topped off with cups of decadent hot chocolate, the best in the world!

After lunch we headed to the Arc de Triomphe, the iconic monument built as a tribute to French soldiers lost in all wars. We took an elevator to the observation deck to be able to experience some of the best views in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe was a sobering and beautiful memorial to fallen soldiers.

As if the Arc de Triomphe wasn’t high enough, we forged on to the Eiffel Tower and proceeded to travel to the top, via elevator (of course). The views from the top were nothing short of magnificent, even for someone terribly afraid of heights. Luckily, there was a sturdy fence enclosing the observation deck! The day turned into evening as we descended. We were delighted by the light show the Eiffel Tower provided us with. This was the perfect ending to a beautiful two day excursion to Paris.

A final note on Paris

I can’t write about Paris without mentioning how impressed I was with the incredible architecture, the sculptures, gargoyles and the fine craftsmanship of the ironwork. If you are interested in fine art, architecture, shopping or sightseeing, Paris is the city to visit!

Ladurée, the grande dame of Paris pâtisseries

A Riverboat Cruise to the Bordeaux Region of France – The Sights, Sounds and Tastes

Nov 23, 2016

A Riverboat Cruise in Bordeaux – The Adventure of a Lifetime!

This is going to be an extra special holiday season. I will have the opportunity to share my lovely photos and incredible experiences I had in Bordeaux with family and friends. Of course… I will also share the details of the other regions in France I visited (with family and friends and in other blog posts). If you are one of those folks that would rather look at pictures and not read, scroll down and check out the slide show!

Traveling through the Bordeaux Region of France is a joy to the senses! When one thinks of Bordeaux, France, wine is the first thought that comes to mind. Of course it should as wine making in the region began 2,000 years ago! There are plenty of great wines to taste and wineries to visit, but wine is only one of the many enticements this fairy tale realm has to offer.

My recent travel to France included a seven-day AMA Waterways riverboat cruise along the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Estuary, through the Bordeaux Region. We visited famous wineries, lovely medieval and renaissance châteaux, a famous citadel along with other UNESCO World Heritage sites. It was easy get swept away by the grandeur, beauty, history, food, and of course, the wines found in the area.

Chateau de Roquetaillade, a castle in Mazères near Bordeaux

The Cruise

The cruise was a highlight of the journey. Riverboat cruises are smaller and far more intimate than the large ocean liners. We traveled with only 120 other passengers, far less than the thousands that travel on an ocean liner. It’s easy to recognize everyone on board and easy to find people to share the experiences of the day with. The food on board is regional cuisine that is beautifully presented, delightfully tasty and paired with the fabulous local wines. It is virtually impossible to go hungry on board. Aside from the three meals served in the dining room, you can always find tasty snacks and beverages in the lounge.

Most people fear they will gain weight on a cruise, but the shore excursions offered on this wine cruise keep you moving. I can say in all honesty, I walked every one of those delicious calories off. I actually lost weight on this trip! There were two or more excursions to choose from daily. One of the daily excursions was to a winery. Other excursions included: a visit to a château, a stroll through a quaint village, or one of the UNESCO sites. Each of the villages has excellent bakeries and unique shops. If you are not in the mood for an excursion, you are always welcome to relax on the sundeck.

Every single person that worked on the ship was joyful, helpful and downright fun to be around. The staff made sure that anything you needed or wanted on board was available. Our tour director, John Riley, an Englishman had an amazing sense of humor and the ability to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

My mission this holiday season is to convince my family and friends to join me on this trip next summer, as I can’t wait to do it all over again!

A great view of the river from one of the decks of the AMA Dolce

There were always pastries in the lounge

Grapes with the "Noble Rot" in Sauternes

The barrel room at a winery in Sauternes

Inner courtyard at Roquetaillade chateau

Leoville Poyferre Estate and Winery in the Medoc region

Vinification tanks at the Leoville Poyferre winery

Barrel room at the Leoville Poyferre winery

View of the river from the Blaye Citadel

Flowers growing out of a crack in a wall

View of the vineyards at the Chateau de Pressac Winery and Estate

Vinification tanks at the Chateau de Pressac Winery and Estate

View of the river from Chateau de Vayres

16th century addition to the original fortress at Chateau de Vayres

View of the vineyards at Chateau de la Riviere Estate and Winery

Entrance to quarry at Chateau de la Riviere Estate and Winery

Bottles age in the old quarry at Chateau de la Riviere

Knights table and chairs carved from stone in the old quarry at Chateau de la Riviere

Remnants of Nazi U Boat pens on the Garonne River

A London & Paris Tour for the Chocolate Lover

Oct 5, 2015

Make Your Chocolate Dreams Come True

As a chocolate lover you will really enjoy this reason for visiting London and Paris with a tour that visits local patisseries and chocolate shops in the 2 capital cities. Every October, London’s Chocolate Week and the Salon du Chocolat in Paris have become the must-attend events for Europe’s chocoholics with an array of workshops, receptions and tasting experiences and a gathering of Europe’s finest chocolatiers

This sweet 6 night confection can run at any time of the year but you might want to time it to coincide with the London Chocolate Festival from 4th – 6th December 2015. They stage a second Festival 25th – 27th March 2016 which can also include a side trip to York for their Chocolate Festival. The Salon du Chocolat in Paris runs at the end of October 2016. Highlights include:

A Chocolate Walk in London, visiting the capital’s best chocolatiers.
An afternoon hands-on Chocolate Workshop with one of London’s best chocolatiers
A Eurostar train ride to Paris
A Chocolate Walk in Paris, visiting the capital’s best chocolatiers and patisseries
A Day at the 2016 Salon du Chocolat including demonstrations and talks about chocolate

Paris and London are sweet to begin with – let’s sweeten the pot by adding in chocolate tasting. Now is the time to call or email Unique Journeys and start dreaming in chocolate.

314/644-8691
nancy@unique-journeys.com