Honfleur to Paris on the river Seine. (Part 1)

Until the advent of Covid, I had travelled on a regular basis with GCT and, alternately, their competitor Vantage. Both had a philosophy of looking after seniors and providing hassle-free adventures to fit their older-aged abilities. I was saddened to learn that Vantage is now defunct!

My caring daughter thought that this journey would be a bit too much for me at my age and, to be frank, I had a few doubts of my own. It did, however, start off on an amusing note: On the night before we were due to fly, American Airlines called me to ask if I was travelling alone. I replied that Christine was travelling with me. “In that case” said the caller “Why would a two-year-old need a wheelchair?” I explained that they must have got the wrong century. There was relief and giggles all round!

Enlarge the pictures to full screen for the best detail.

Serge. Stalwart patriot, ardent promoter of the French way of life and indefatigable leader of our ‘Blue’ group

ROISSY

We booked into the Novotel Convention early in the morning for an over-night stay. Other passengers were to arrive throughout the day. Serge led we early arrivals on a tour of a small village about a mile away from the hotel. It began to rain, however, so Christine and I dropped off at a Tibetan restaurant for lunch.

 

The whimsical hotel lobby . . . .

 

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Serge conducting the early arrivals on the village tour near the hotel. . .

 

Kitted out for the adventure. The red gadgets are the famous GCT “Whispers”; they allow one to hear the group’s leader clearly up to 60 or 70 yards away! In general, I was able to conform, but, uphill, I strained its resources a bit!

 

Not the usual French monument?

Outdoor cartoons

 

Tibetan restaurant in France? The food was excellent!

 

HONFLEUR

After breakfast, we transferred to coaches and travelled for five hours to Honfleur where the good ship, “M/S Bizet”, was awaiting us–and her Captain had arranged a welcome-aboard Dinner. On the way, we stopped off to visit the ‘Peace Memorial Museum’ in Caen. Throughout the coach ride, Serge intrigued and entertained us with his expressive tales of French history and limitless knowledge of all things French.

The Caen ‘Peace Memorial Museum’

 

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The front door of our home for the next ten days . . . .

 

Security blanket!

 

Our balcony cabin welcomed us with chocolates, fruit and wine!

 

Our Captain . . . .

 

The captain’s table . . .

End of part 1–Next, on to the Cliffs of Etretat and The Normandy Beaches!