Toby's 40th Birthday Party

 To Wendover for Toby's 40th Birthday party

Jack, Emma, Toby

Toby, Dan, Peter, Joan

Brionne, Jessica, Josie-Mae, Joan

All photographs by Krisie

Paris & the Heart of Normandy - Paris & Home

 

Day 8 – Thursday12 September 2024

 

Our flight was timed at departing Paris CDG at 14:10 with departure from boat at 10:15 so we had time for a leisurely breakfast and read in the lounge. We shared a mini-bus with another couple on the same flight. Paralympics had finished now so Paris was opened up and all motorway lanes were open. The driver acted as if he was at the wheel of a racing car and we parked at CDG Departures after a 35 minute drive.

 

A Viking rep greeted us at the kerb, took some cases and led us through the airport to a lift and the checkin desks, which weren’t open for 20 minutes, so she found us seats to wait. When the desks were open she took us to them, stayed with us and lifted our cases onto the belt. When all four of us had checked in, she took us to the security entry and wished us a good flight. Viking's service at airport arrival and departure was exemplary.

 

The lounge BA used at CDG was spacious and there was ample seating. We landed in London, thanks to the time difference, 10 minutes after we departed.

 

Summary

 

A pleasant cruise. Highlight for us was the D-Day excursion and we’d have liked more time. Combining Canadian and British sites made for a more crowded itinerary than those on the American excursion.

 

For the first time, there wasn’t a resident pianist on the cruise, instead were used locals who joined at stops on the cruise.

 

The design of Vikings Longboats is excellent. I like being able to dine outside on the prow with nothing but a chest-height glass screen in front. No dinghies, winches or open hatches to obscure the view.

 

Even inside it's light and airy with opening glass doors in front and a glass roof.

 

Paris & the Heart of Normandy - Chateau de Malmaison

 Day 7 – Wednesday11 September 2024

 

When we woke Viking Skaga was moored in the outskirts of Paris at Le Pecq

https://what3words.com/task.maternal.rocked

 

 

Napoleon Crossing the Alps, painting by Jacques-Louis David on display in the Chateau. He actually rode on a donkey because horses couldn't cross the Alps

 

At 09:30 we took a short coach ride to Chateau de Malmaison, (https://musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr) the home of Josephine and Emperor Napoleon I and now a museum.

Josephine's Bedroom

Chateau de Malmaison

 

There is memorabilia and a bedroom built for Josephine that is so over-the-top she slept in another room but there’s nothing outstanding about the building.

Two of the Black Swans

 

After touring the house we went looking for the black swans that Josephine introduced to France.  They were camera shy.

There was an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles that left at 13:45. We didn’t go on it because we’d been there before. Those that did go re-joined the boat at our starting mooring in Paris. The ones who went  that I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed it and were bowled over by the extensive gardens.

 

Viking Skaga departed at 13:50 and arrived back at the same location we started at.  Our cabin faced the water, or would have if not rafted to Viking Kari.

 

In that night’s Viking Daily were details by cabin of the times luggage should be placed outside the cabin and departure time from boat. Crew carry baggage to ones coach/taxi. Cabins had to be vacated at 09:00.

 

The earliest departure from the boat was 04:45 for a flight to Frankfurt, presumably to connect with a flight to North America. The latest departure was 19:00 for people with their own arrangements.

 

Night Location: Paris https://what3words.com/expose.laws.suspect

 

 

Paris & the Heart of Normandy - Les Andelys

Day 6 – Tuesday10 September 2024

 

 

Viking Skaga left Rouen before we woke, and the morning was spent cruising until we moored at 11:50 at Les Andelys, the outside rafted to Riviera’s Jane Austen.

https://what3words.com/marina.tiredly.indefinite

 

 

Fish'n'Chips, with a glass of dry white wine  - ummmm

 

Les Andelys

 

At 14:00 we went with an enthusiastic female guide to walk through the small riverside town and visit the church built in 1196 before walking up to Chateau Gaillard, the castle that overlooks the town and river.

 

 

 

Chateau Gaillard

 

The Programme Director – a fit healthy young man – said the walk up to the castle is very steep and that he had struggled. We decided not to go and several people who tried gave up. I went for a walk inland to the neighbouring modern town but the wind got up and it started raining so I headed back to the boat for a warming coffee.

 

Viking Skaga cast off at 17:00

 

The bar

 

Night Location: Cruising the Seine towards Paris