A quick look at Paris
For our last day on the Seine River we were based in Paris – the City of Love, the City of Light. Peter had never been to Paris and it was something like thirty years ago that I was there. … Continued
No wonder the peasants revolted
No visit to Paris is complete without a look at Louis XIV’s palace of Versailles. Back on day one of the tour we were given two choices: The main apartments and a look at the gardens The main apartments and … Continued
A day in Rouen
Rouen is the starting point for passengers wanting to visit the Normandy beaches where the D-day landings took place in June, 1944. I think many of our American passengers would have had a grandfather or other relative who took part … Continued
Caudebec en Caux
This little village was as far down the Seine as the Joie de Vivre would travel. From here, we could choose to take a bus ride through the Normandy countryside for a guided walking tour of the pretty village of … Continued
A hot day in Rouen
Today the Joie de Vivre was moored at Rouen, medieval capital of the Dukes of Normandy. We were offered a walking tour of Rouen without charge, or for a considerable fee and a very early start, a visit to the … Continued
Monet’s garden at Giverny
During lunch the ship slipped around a curve on the Seine and moored within striking distance of Monet’s garden at Giverny. This was one location on the bucket list. I like impressionist art and I like gardens. It was a … Continued
The Chateau de Roche Guyon
We spent the evening of our first day in France admiring the scenery as we sailed downstream from Paris while we ate dinner. I was struck by the prevalence of white chalk cliffs along the way – but it stands … Continued
At last – up, up and away
By the time you read this Pete and I will either just have arrived home from our first overseas trip in over two years, or we’re nearly there. We’ve been to France for a two-river cruise. From Paris we went … Continued
A profound image
This has to be the most profound, most deeply significant photograph I have ever seen. It was taken by the James Webb telescope stationed about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth in its orbit around the sun. It was positioned so … Continued
Getting back to normal
What can I say? I forgot to write a Saturday blog, so now it’s a late blog. Sorry. After weeks of unseasonal rain, the weather here in Hervey Bay has reverted to normal programming – cool to cold nights and … Continued