Last Full Day

Tue. Aug 12

Today was our last full day, so we decided on a short trip to Monaco, it is only about. 30 miles away. It looked like in the movies, but picture a lot, and I mean a lot more people.

The high rise you see in the picture is a new condo developement, each unit is the WHOLE FLOOR at the measly price of €60 million. I wonder what the assoc dues are?

I will post more pictures from the trip when I get home

Bath Anyone

Aug 11, Mon

Today while touring around Nice, we came across and old roman bath. The engineering they used was very inovative.

After that we found a great place for a photo of the city, it was righr by Sean Connery's house.

Tomorrow is our last full day and we are off to Monaco

It is starting to run together

Fri,Sat   Aug 8-9

The days are beginning to run together, I guess I am not getting any younger.

We have spent the last two days in Avignon FR. Fri we went to the old roman city of Arles. The actually have a coluseum and ampitheatre that they are still using.

On Sat. we took our tour of Avignon which is still surrounded by the original wall, although a few extra opening have been cut in it for easier access.  Avignon, while being a larger city gives you a cozy feeling and is easily walkable.

We did take a brief ride to an old roman aquaduct. It is one of the best remaining in europe. The original waterway way over 30 miles long.

Tomorrow we transfer from the ship to Nice. 

My yauht awaits.  YEA !  RIGHT!!!!!

Sorry. ... be patient

We have just discovered that the posts we have been making from the ship haven't been going anywhere.

We suspected is the satellite service.

Be patient and I will upload them all my have a better connection

Something Different

Wed Aug 6

Let's do something different for today instead of boring you with the same old church excursions city and walks  we will take a brief tour of the ship.

The Viking Buri is 3 levels, the lower level cabins are approximately halfway below the water line . The second level contains the dining room, as well as state rooms in the lobby area. The third deck has  a seating area for viewing while cruising and also a covered terrace just behind the bow where you can sit also. It serves light meals also for breakfast and lunch.

On top of the third deck, running the full length of the ship is the sun deck that has open areas and covered areas 4 sitting and lounging while cruising. It also has a very small miniature golf course, shuffleboard courts and a walking track.

The ship is approx 440 ft long, 38 ft wide and 3 stories high and weighs 2660 ton.
All of this to carry approx 200 passengers and 50 crew.

Let's start in RECEPTION In the lobby is the reception desk and a small store with Viking logoed  merchandise.

On both sides of the lobby there are sliding doors for entering and exiting the ship depending on what level is the doc is and what side is talk on.

DINING ROOM

The dining room has six eight and ten person tables, serving breakfast lunch and dinner. Dining is open seating sit with whatever you wish.

For breakfast and lunch you could also eat a lighter meal on the Aquavit Terrace..

UPPER LOBBY

The upper lobby contains the ships library, two computer stations for guests to use, the internet , the concierge desk and two coffee stations that are open 24 hours a day with coffee, cappuccino, expresso, tea and pastries.

LOUNGE & BAR

This is where you spend most of your time on the ship the lounge has 270 degree windows, which allows you a panoramic view off both sides of the river while cruising.

The bar is open from mid morning until the last person leaves at night serving a wide variety of both mixed drinks, wine and beer

During lunch and after dinner when there are no presentations or activities using the lounge they have live music.

The lounge is used regular basis for presentations both on things in the european union and information sessions about the ship and the countryside.

This afternoon there is a demonstration on classical french quiche preparation.

AQUAVIT LOUNGE

The Aquavit Lounge is a much smaller area on the front of the ship between the bow and the main lounge, it has sliding doors that can be opened weather permitting for both dining and to sit outside while cruising

This is where you can obtain your lighter continental style breakfast or a sandwich buffet for lunch.

SUN DECK

During the day when the weather is nice this is where most people prefer two lounge, due to a 360 degree view of the river and surroundings.

It runs the length of the ship and has lounges and chairs in both open sun and shaded areas.

There is also a very small miniature golf course, a couple of shuffleboard courts and a walking track.

4 low bridges and locks with little clearance the sun back is closed all of the chairs, railings and awnings are lowered to reduce the height of the ship.

The wheelhouse can also be see sitting towards the front of the ship on the sun deck.

WHEEL HOUSE

As I am sure you know the wheel house is where the ship is controlled from. On a trip river ship however it is a duck of a different order.

The wheel house in addition to controlling all the functions of the ship also goes up and down. For normal cruising it is raised in its normal position and stand's about 10 feet above the deck. When it is necessary to go under a low bridge or a lock with low clearance the wheel house is mounted on sissor hydraulics and can be lowered to a position level with the deck. At this time the captain opens the sunroof and sticks his head out so we can see where he is going or leans close to one of his computers and steers to ship by radar.

First Full Day

Mon Aug 4

Today was the first full day on the ship after arriving late Sunday afternoon and getting settled in.

After breakfast it was time to load up on the buses for a brief city tour around Lyon that was back to the ship for lunch.

Following lunch and a brief rest we were off for a tour of a nearby 14th century medieval village that has been and is still in the process of being restored by the 90 residents that live there.

Prior to dinner there was a welcome reception in the lounge with champagne, Kir Royales, mimosa s and canapes, this was followed by a dinner of Chateau Briand and a cheese tasting. Needless to say you do not go hungry and you get an adequate amount of calories to keep your body satisified.

We have opted to just kick back and rest a little bit tomorrow and maybe wander the town rather than participate in the two tours that are available.

I will post some better pictures later, but your are a few of the ship so you could see the rough life we have.

There will be more pictures later of the ship but for right now I don't want to use up the internet time

Transfer Day

Sun Aug 3

Today is our day to leave Paris.

Our early day started at 6:45, with our luggage outside our door. Next was breakfast followed by 7:30 in the lobby to identify our bags to suure tgey were put on tge proper bus, there are 2. Around 8 it was load up for our 5 hour trip to Lyon. It was supposed to be much shorter, but due to high water the ship could not get under a couple bridges so we have tp go an extra 90 miles on the bus to meet it.

Part way there we stopped in Dijon, think mustard, for lunch, shopping and a brief tour.

We are now back on the bus headed south once again and have hit heavy rain which is slowing the traffic down.

More tomorrow folks, now it is time for a nap.

Adieu Paris

Sat Aug 2

Today was our last full day in Paris, for this trip. Martha and I spent the day wandering and shopping. Greg and Lynn spent their time riding the Hop on Hop off circuits (5) to be sure nothibg was missed.

After meeting back at the hotel, we went out for a nice Italian dinner.

Later on we took the bus to the tower to watch the sparkle at 10 pm, it is always nice. The problem was, no one bothered to tell us the bus we needed to get back stopped running at 9:20. Thank goodness for the late running subways.

If I can, I will post a video of the sparkle later