Recently updated on January 15th, 2020 at 08:00 pm
My Best of France trip with Trafalgar led us to little Paris – Bordeaux, where we stayed for the next two nights.
All our meals were equally good, at the hotels or restaurants or the optional dinners, with wine included – loved the wine! We visited the biggest street and square market I have ever seen, filled with locals going about their shopping. I enjoyed it very much. Then it was off to the beautiful wine village of St. Emilion with vineyards as far as the eye could see! That night I took the optional tour and dinner at the Chateau Loudenne and winery in Medoc where we tried many wines including a Pink Medoc.
The next day we visited the stunning Chateau Chenonceau – the gardens are amazing and the flower arrangements in each room of the castle were incredible. In the evening we were treated to a Be My Guest dinner at a 17th century farm in Villandry, hosted by the owners themselves! We saw many artefacts on display dating back to the revolution – which the owners found hidden after they purchased the farm many years ago. The main dish was Ossobuco – superb, as was the dessert, a very rich chocolate mousse cake with mocha butter cream on the side. We all practically licked the plates!
Omelettes are a local specialty in the island-town of Mont St. Michel, so while we were here I went to a local restaurant to see the chefs at work. I opted for a crepe instead as the omelettes were so popular I was going to be in for a wait! I saw many signed photos of celebrities on their walls including Hemingway, but unfortunately there were no famous faces dining while I was there.
Our guided walk with Cindy around Omaha Beach was a very emotional experience, the American Cemetery and Museum proved very hard to visit without shedding a tear. The beach below is beautiful and it’s difficult to imagine everything that happened here on D-Day so many years ago. I had taken a small American flag with me and left it by the tomb of an unknown soldier.
Our last day on the road and we were Paris bound, but not before stopping in Giverny to visit the home of Monet. Now this is what a call a garden! I couldn’t take my eyes off the Japanese bridge and all the beautiful water lilies.
In Paris, we all got together for our Farewell Dinner at Chez Clement, a very nice restaurant on the Champs Elysees, not far from the Arc deTriomphe. It was a very nice way to end such a great trip. Cindy our Travel Director was exceptional and I loved everything about France and its people. I can’t wait to go back again soon!!
Au revoir France for now…
Susana from California
To read Susana’s full Best of France travel tale, visit the Trafalgar Community Forums here
