Cork and Kerry A.R.I.: MALLOW ARA ANNUAL HOLIDAY IN PROVENCE

SOME MEMBERS OF MALLOW ARA AND DONOUGHMORE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A FABULOUSHOLIDAY IN BURGANDY THE RHONE AND PROVENCE WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL.
WE TRAVELLED FROM DUBLIN TO LYON AND JOINED OUR SHIP THERE FOR A RIVER CRUISE ON THE RHONE AND THE SOANE . THE MS COUNTESS IS A FABULOUS SHIP ACCOMODATING 130 GUESTS ON 3 LEVALS.

EACH DAY WE HAD FULL BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER AS WELL AS AFTERNOON TEA AND COFFEE/TEA AND COOKIES AVAILABLE ALL DAY AND NIGHT. SO WE WILL HAVE TO DO PLENTY OF WALKING NOW THAT WE ARE BACK TO GET RID OF THOSE EXTRA POUNDS.

THE WEATHER WAS FABULOUS EVEN A LITTLE HOT AT TIMES.CRUISING ON THE RIVER IS A REALLY LOVELY SENSATION SO RELAXING TO WATCH THE WORLD SLIDE BY. EACH DAY WE CALLED TO A DIFFERENT TOWN AND WENT ON WALKING TOURS AS WELL AS COACH TO TOWNS FURTHER INLAND. WE VISITED PLACES SUCH AS LYON CHALON,BEAUNE,VIENNE, TOURNON.THE ARDECHE GORGES,ARLES AND AVIGNON.

WE VISITED A VINYARD AND WINERY AND SAMPLED THE WINE.A LIVELY MARKET IN BEAUNE,VISITED CASTLES ,CHURCHES ,STOOD ON THE FAMOUS PONT DU GARD, VISITED A LAVENDER FARM AND PERFUMERY, VISITED THE MADELEINE GROTTO ,THE POPES PALACE IN AVIGNON AND STOOD ON THE FAMOUS BRIDGE IN AVIGNON. I AM SURE A LOT OF YOU WILL REMEMBER FROM SCHOOL THE SONG IN FRENCH CLASS "SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON"
THERE WAS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF ROMAN OCCUPATION WHERE THE LARGE STONES AND WALLS WERE BLENDED INTO THE PRESENT DAY BUILDINGS. AND OF COURSE THE VATICAN WAS BASED IN AVIGNON FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD NINE POPES REIGNED THERE BEFORE RETURNING TO ROME.MY ABIDING MEMORY IS OF THE HEAVENLY SMELL OF LAVENDER PINE AND CYPRESS.
WE FLEW BACK TO DUBLIN FROM MARSEILLES AFTER 7 NIGHTS ON BOARD.

NOW FOR SOME PHOTOS BUT THEY ONLY TELL SOME OF THE STORY AS WE WERE ENJOYING OURSELVES SO MUCH.