Cruising Down the Rhone River in France

 

Don Mankin was hosted by AmaWaterways on a 7-day, wine-themed cruise down the Rhone River in France, all opinions are his own.Wine, Wine and More Wine

One of the main attractions of this AmaWaterways trip was the wine-tastings, pairings, and seminars led by Freddy Arredondo, winemaker and co-owner of Cave B Estate Winery in Eastern Washington. A knowledgeable, charismatic, and skilled presenter, Freddy was able to hold the attention, day-after-day, of an audience.

Towns and Villages Along the Way

As fun and informative as the wine tastings were, even more important for me was the opportunity to visit several historically significant towns along the way in ease and comfort.

The cruise started in Lyon, the second largest city in France. If you’ll pardon the travel-writing cliche, Lyon is picturesque and charming. (In fact all of the places we visited were picturesque and charming. So to avoid repeating myself, factor the cliché into every description that follows. You can also add “historic” and either “medieval, “Renaissance,” or “Gothic,” or some combination of the three, to save time and space. All apply.)

Lyon is also special for the two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone, which flow through the old town before converging just south of the city, creating views from almost everywhere but the narrow, winding alleys and covered walkways (“traboules”) that weave throughout the historic core of the old city.

Our first stop after Lyon was the hilltop village of Oignt (I won’t even try to tell you how it is pronounced) in the Beaujolais region to visit a traditional vineyard and winery.

After that was Vienne, a Roman colony in the waning years before the beginning of the Christian era. Well-preserved Roman monuments are scattered throughout the city, including an impressive Roman theatre, still used for concerts.

For me the highlight of our day in Vienne was the steep hike up Mt. Pipet overlooking the city. After a few minutes to appreciate the views, our guide took us into the rustic chapel at the top of the hill and sang a rendition of Ave Maria that sent chills up-and-down my agnostic spine. 

In Tournon, our next stop, we went to a red wine and chocolate pairing in the Tournon castle after we arrived, then tried to burn off the calories the next morning by hiking to the L’Hermitage vineyards on the hillside across the river. This was followed by – what else? – a wine tasting. On the way back to the ship we stopped at Chocolate City, the flagship store for Valrhona chocolates. I didn’t stop sampling their wares until I had regained whatever calories burned off on the hike, and then some.

Among the many options for our all-too-brief visit to Avignon was a morning excursion to the famous Roman aqueduct and World Heritage Site, the Pont du Gard. Built in the first century AD and at a height of over 160 feet and a span of almost 900 feet, it is a testament to the engineering skills of the ancient Romans.

The last stop on our cruise was the city of Arles, best known, perhaps, for the two years that Vincent Van Gogh spent in the city, a sojourn that produced some of his most famous paintings.

Looking for something different, I chose a morning excursion to the Camargue Regional Nature Park on the Mediterranean for a touch of wildlife and natural scenery.  At the heart of the Camargue is a saltwater marsh that is a protected sanctuary for birds, including flamingos, egrets, and ducks.

This is only a sampling of the many options that were available each morning and afternoon, ranging in level of activity from “gentle” to “active.” Most of the time we chose the active options to try and compensate for the wine and excellent meals and snacks we consumed several times a day. It must have worked since I only gained a couple of pounds on the trip.

Inching Our Way Through the Locks

An unexpected attraction was the many locks we passed through as we descended down the river. Even my technophobic wife, who is usually uninterested in feats of engineering, was fascinated by the technical intricacies of the locks and the skill required to maneuver a large vessel through the narrow locks, usually with only inches to spare.

Possibly what I liked most about the trip was the smooth, fluid, silent passage through the environment. Much of the time, when I wasn’t eating, drinking or on an excursion, I just kicked back on the deck — sensing, observing, and appreciating that I did not have to control where we went and how fast we got there.

Or maybe it was just the opportunity to drink as much as I wanted without worrying about anything more challenging than staying upright long enough in the evenings to get back to my cabin and slide into bed.

 

 

Don Mankin

Former psychology professor and dean, now award-winning travel writer Don Mankin (a.k.a. the Adventure Geezer) writes about adventure travel for baby-boomers and active seniors. The Wall Street Journal called his most recent book, Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to 50 Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler, published by National Geographic Books, "One of the best travel books [of the] year.” Don has won first place from 2011 to 2016 in the 50+ Travel Category in the annual competition sponsored by the North American Travel Journalists Association. When he isn’t traveling, Don can be found in Venice Beach along with the other human flotsam that make Venice Beach one of the most fascinating places in the world.

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