by Judy Bereza, guest blogger

The experience of river cruising can be addictive.  We have cruised the Danube, the Rhine, the Moselle, and this past June we added the Rhone in Southern France to this happy “affliction”.  Europe’s rivers are a passport to historic cities, landmarks and spectacular scenery.  Scenery often enjoyed while sipping a glass of localwine while slipping past one awe inspiring vista after another.

Our cruising line of choice is Scenic, a company based in Australia.  It is an upscale company with all the usual amenities both in accommodation, dining, and exclusiveand private experiences. But beyond that, the passengers are mostly international, many from Australia, but also New Zeeland, Canada and the British Isles.  On our cruise only six couples were from the United States. That international flavor adds to the interactions and enjoyment with fellow passengers.  

Our itinerary began in Lyon, with a short cruise north to Sur-la-Saone, then a coach ride to Beaune, with a visit to a historic hospital founded in 1433 as a charitable institution for the poor and needy.  It is a beautiful gothic compound and the poor and needy. must have thought they had landed in Paradise.  From there, we continued south.  Each day, several excursions were offered.  Did you want to visit a stunning Chateau or indulge in a tasting visit to a Burgundy vineyard?

Perhaps you would prefer to explore the local countryside on an electric bike? In the evening a cocktail hour at a local castle with a spectacular view would await you at the end of a short stroll.

One of our personal highlights was an afternoon spent kayaking on the Gardon River. Probably the biggest “goose bump” moment of the entire cruise was waiting for us. Coming around a bend in the river, we saw the Port du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, and one of the best preserved structures of Roman engineering anywhere in the world.  We kayaked right beneath it, and then went on to navigate a bit of “white water”, just to add an exclamation point to the experience. If kayaking is not on your bucket list, you could also elect to ride a coach to this UNESCO world heritage site.  That is another one of the benefits of rivercruising; accommodations for passengers’ physical abilities are addressed.  As our tour director explained, even the “gentle walkers” can fully participate.

We continued south to Avignon, the site of the Palais des Papes, or the Palace of Popes. One of the featured experiences of the cruise was a private dinner and concert in The Grand Tinel, the most celebrated space in this Gothic palace, where during the 14th Century Popes were elected, celebrated Mass, and received Royal dignitaries.  Another celebrated village and abbey awaited us as we continued further south.  Gordes is one of the most beautiful hilltop villages in Provence.  A perfect place to wander cobblestone streets and reward yourself with an espresso and a view.  Nearby was a picture perfect abbey, The Foret Communale de Hordes.  It is a functioning abbey, and I managed to catch one of the monks attending to his chores.

Then on to Arles, the temporary residence of Vincent Van Gogh.  We toured the asylum, La Maison de Santé, where he spent several months and used the garden for severalof his paintings.  Arles also boasts a Roman Amphitheater which is still used today.  At this point we headed back north, visiting new villages and attractions.  Oh yes, if cave exploration appeals to you, that is also an option.

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Another interesting pastime while cruising is passing through the 12 locks on the Rhone River.  All hands on deck seemed to be the mantra as most of the 120 passengerson board did not want to miss this additional attraction.

I would be amiss without a brief mention of the food.  Superb, gourmet, and generally fabulous.  And always plentiful, too plentiful. Also, a brief recommendation for timing.  Europe’s summers are becoming too hot for comfortable travel, so the shoulder seasons are preferable. 

The Rhone is one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers, and if river cruising is on your list, it is not to be missed.

Judy loves to travel with family and friends, taking off on adventures far and near with her husband, family and friends.  A retired interior designer, Judy divides her time between Michigan and Florida, while making many trips each year to visit grandchildren in other states.  

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