Happy hour for Bobbie

Le Treport

Waiting for the bus

Happy Hour

Happy Hour

More happies..

Day 6. Saturday 15 June:
Dieppe market in the morning.  On to Entretat and over the Pont de Normandie to Honfleur, before arriving at Vernon for the night.

Entretat

Happy eaters!

Pont de Normandie

Terri waiting for the bus!

Making friends in Honfleur!

Enjoying the sunshine in Honfleur

and enjoying an ice cream!

Dieppe market Saturday morning

Anyone for snails?!

Brian enjoying his welks for dinner at Vernon

Day 7. Sunday 16 June:  Vernon to Monet's Garden and Chartres and return to Vernon via Rouen.

A very considerate husband.

Enjoying Monet's garden

Reflections beyond belief

Monet's grave site

Stain glass at Chartres Cathedral

The mini train has become our favourite method of viewing a new French city - this time Chartres!!

Rouen also has stain glass windows, but in a very modern church

 

Day 5. Friday 14 June:  Today was Bobbie's birthday! We sang Happy Birthday at breakfast and then celebrated at a Happy Hour that evening after our arrival in Dieppe, complete with flowers and chocolates from the hotel management!

 

The birthday girl during the day

The day started from Amiens, with a local guide who was brilliant, as we toured the Somme for nearly 5 hours, in a particularly significant crusade for Rob Polain and Margaret Kimber.  Rob was able to visit the memorial to his grandfather at Villers Bretonneux - the first member of his family to do so.
From the Somme we headed towards the coat - Abbeville, Le Treport and then Dieppe.

Margaret and Rob placing poppies beside their family members

Rob at his grandfather's memorial

Day 4. Thursday 13 June:  This day was an early start as we had an 11 am appointment for a tour of the Champagne de Castellana cellars at Epernay and were determined we were not going to be late!  A little drizzle rain did not deter our enthusiasm.

Underground!

A glass afterwards to enjoy!

.. after we'd climbed to the top of the tower!  How many towers is that?!



View from the tower

From there we travelled to Reims and first stop was the Palace of Tau, to admire the magnificent tapestries from the 13th century, and the tall statues.

A sample of the magnificent tapestries

And marble statues

Another tapestry!

The smiling angel at the Cathedral entrance in Reims

Heavier rain was definitely a deterrent in Reims but did not dampen our spirits. Umbrellas had appeared.  On to Amiens, a quick visit to the supermarket, and then we enjoyed an organised group meal.



Day 3. Wednesday 12 June: This was a beautiful day as we followed the Mosel River, crossing from one side to the other as irregular intervals.  There were spectacular views of village squashed beteeen the river and the hillside, through Cochem and Zell until we stopped at Bernkastel.  Some couldn't resist the shopping and found a bargain or two.  Others simply wandered, admiring the narrow streets and colourful decorations, with the vineyards just behind.

Vines growing on the side of the hill

Along the Mosel River

From there we continued to Trier to see the Porta Nigra and other highlights.

Berrnkastel

The browsers

 From there we continued to Trier to see the Porta Nigra and other highlights.

Porta Nigra

Setting off to see the other highlights of Trier



Next stop was Luxembourg for some duty free shopping!  Finally we reached Metz  and then it was out to dinner at a near-by restaurant.

Fine dining

Keith had a healthy appetite!

 

Day 2 on the road, Tuesday 11 June:  An early departure from Hannover saw us on the way to Cologne.  First stop for all of us was the Treasury - what wealth, but unfortunately no photos allowed!  The Cathedral was vey impressive, with lovely stained glass windows.

Cologne Csthedral

Then 13 adventurous ambassadors tackled the spiral staircase to the top of the cathedral tower -a spiral staircase not to be treated lightly!

Kevin made it to the top of the tower!

View from the top

One of the 7 bells viewed en route to the top

From Cologne we followed the Rhein to Koblenz, admiring the agility of the locals to cultivate vines on the side of steep hills,  and the beautiful villages dotted along the river.

On arrival in Koblenz we undertook a 2 hour walking tour of the Old Town with an excellent guide.

Kaiser Wilhelm I at Deutsches Eck

Germans love their dogs!

Resting during the 2-hour walk

On the move!

A typical building

Relaxing over dinner afterwards