Renaissance
River cruising used to be known for old ships, small & spartan cabins with lackluster meals. Blah. Completely unappealing 🙁
In the last few years, it has gone through a rebirth with NEW ships that are more like 5 star floating boutique hotels.
photo of the AmaCerto courtesy of AmaWaterways

Immersion
Imagine cruising directly through the landscape. Rivers in Europe were the original highways for transporting goods & people. Modern river cruising is an intimate & immersive experience. Vessels between 100 to 150 passengers stopping at villages, towns & cities along the way.
landscape photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Our Lady Reigns
The gleaming white Notre Dame de Fourviere basilica high atop the hill overlooking the city.

A closer look at the facade of this sacred site  . . . built in a neo-Byzantine style of architecture  . . . a roman Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Three Rivers
They say there are 3 rivers in Lyon  . . . the Saone River in the foreground . . . the Rhone River in the midground . . . hint: follow the tree lines across . . .  and the Beaujolais  . . . because so much wine flows through here (joke!)

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Welcome Aboard!
Postcards from Lyon  . . . staff members Elena & Peter welcome us aboard at a cocktail reception with a glass of Veuve Clicquot French champagne for each passenger . . . and a red rose for each lady . . . a nice touch!

Ready to Set Sail
AmaDagio’s Cruise Manager John Riley & Hotel Director Luis de Sousa Marques . . . along with Captain Louis Devaux (not shown here) . . . greeted passengers and prepared us for our cruise  . . . on the Saone & Rhone Rivers . . .  south from Lyon to Arles.

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Take a Fast Train . . .
The high-speed TGV train to Lyon takes only 2 hours . . . as opposed to 5 hours by car . . . sit back as someone else does the driving . . . and enjoy the view of the French countryside . . . we’ll be there soon!

and a Slow Boat
Postcards from Lyon  . . . when I say river boat  . . . I am referring to sleek modern vessels  . . . that offer all the creature comforts  . . . as you glide through the countryside on a river cruise . . . stopping at local towns & villages along the way.

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Today we transfer to the Lyon Train Station for a fast trip south . . . to our food & wine cruise through the south of France!

Relax in Another Era
If you arrived extra early, consider having a quick drink  . . .in Le Train Bleu  . . . the Belle Epoque style restaurant within the Gare de Lyon.

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

We continue our journey with a food & wine cruise on the Saone & Rhone Rivers through the south of France.
Here is a video previewing the highlights of river cruising in Europe:

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Bon Bon
after a superb three-course dinner at L’Ardoise with a lovely Languedoc vin rouge, I was looking for something a little sweet  . . . oh la la . . . so many bon bon choices.

Guilt Trip
Possibly feeling a little guilty about enjoying your trip? . . . note all the DELICIOUS SOUVENIRS . . . including those delectable Parisian macaroons (see left) . . . you can bring back for your family and friends . . . maybe even co-workers . . . or for yourself to ease the vacation withdrawal!

Cafe Americain
I have an off center sense of humor & was amused to see McCafe in Paris. Chic little take out coffee bars serving espresso drinks to order & classic French pastries such as croissants, eclairs, macarons,etc. We don’t have those in th U.S. Who knew?

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

Chalkboard
New discoveries await down a narrow little street . . . several recommended French restaurants to choose from for dinner . . .
Q: What does the name of this cozy place, L’Ardoise, mean?  . . .
hints: where the daily specials are posted, see upper right corner

Answer: L’Ardoise translates as “slate” or “chalkboard”  . . . referring to where the daily specials are posted in cafes, bistros, brasseries & restaurants.
Meanwhile the “specialite de la maison” at this restaurant is obvious from its name.

Some eateries, such as L’Ardoise, offer a prix fixe multi course dinner . . . Ferdi is unusual as it offers an a la carte menu  . . . it’s not unusual to see extensive wine lists in such intimate places . . . by the bottle, not the glass.

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597

a Little Street Music
Video Postcard from Paris  . . .  street musicians . . .  playing in front of Musee d’Orsay  . . . caught one jazzy number . . . before the rain ended the show.
http://youtu.be/bxg3UbTE-FA
I made a contribution but didn’t take note (pun) of their name. Anyone know who they are?

For more delicious details, contact:
Jacintha Perera, culinary escape artist
Gourmet Getaways, a division of
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
916.897.9597