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By Debbie Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com
Most Seine river cruises start in Paris, then head to Normandy to the English Channel. Guests take a trip to explore Normandy’s highlights: Rouen Cathedral, the 950-year-old Bayeux Tapestry, and evocative WWII D-day landing sites. Honfleur is the last stop before the tour, and the end of the return route will be Claude Monet’s house and garden.
When I saw the Riviera River Cruise, I knew it was the trip for me – an art, history, wine and cheese lover. I flew to Paris and boarded their ship, the “Jane Austen,” which held a maximum of 140 passengers. I prefer smaller people and smaller river cruises than mega ocean liners. The cruise started in the evening with dinner. After the boat docked, the captain steered the boat toward the small Statue of Liberty and the glittering Eiffel Tower in the distance. It’s magical to see the lit icon sparkle like a firework display.
The next morning, we arrived at Les Andelis, a village with a view of the hilltop Chateau Galliard. The buildings are the ruins of Richard the Lion’s castle, built between 1196 – 1198. Then we went down to a beautiful town with half-timbered buildings.
The cruise travels back in time to the medieval city of Rouen to see the nightly sound and light show on the cathedral’s facade. A colorful explosion and technologically advanced audience watch in stunned silence. Unbelievable! The next morning, guests take a walking tour of the city, learning about the cathedral’s long history and Joan of Arc. Joan is set on fire in her doorway after her trial. A modern church stands on the site, architecturally unappealing to me, but once sided, lit by a wall of magnificent stained glass windows.
My cruise sailed at Quebec, and the guests embarked for Bayeux the next day. The small town contains another great cathedral, but its calling card is the priceless Bayeux Tapestry. Having done needlework in my junior year, I admired the intricate detail and symbolism in this 230-foot-long masterpiece. It tells the story of William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings.
D-Day landing sites came next, starting at Pointe du Hoc. Here, American soldiers, faced with enemy fire, climbed a cliff. The courage of these young soldiers wins when you see the bombed terrain and German artillery bases. We went to Omaha Beach for another stop. The width of the sand surprised me; It was full of sunbathers and swimmers. An impressive memorial commemorates the momentous events that took place on this beautiful beach in 1944.
The final site was the 172-acre American Cemetery with the graves of 9,387 American war dead. The cemetery commemorates those lost in the Battles of Normandy. It is emotionally difficult to visit, but it preserves the memory of those who lost their lives bravely fighting for international freedom. We owe a lot.
The medieval town of Honfleur, with its narrow cobblestone streets and central rectangular harbor in the old village center, is the next day’s tour. It was a market day, too crowded for my liking.
As we approached Paris, Monet’s house and garden at Giverny became interesting. The colorful house has a yellow dining room and a kitchen with blue and white tiles. Of course, colorful water lily ponds remain popular.
The cruise returned to Paris, a city that never disappoints. Viva la France.
To read more local travel writer Debbie Lander’s stories and travel tips, visit www.bylandersea.com.
Photo courtesy of Debbie Lander
“Jane Austen.”
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