Scenic Gem: 11 day Gems of the Seine plus Normandy (hopefully live thread)

[cruiseryyc]

I loved that little town!  Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories.

Edited August 10, 2019 by cruiseryyc

[1of4]

France has a rating systems for gardens and flowers towns use to make their locations more beautiful. It is announced on the name sign coming into the town. Les Andelys has a rating of 3 flowers while Lyons-la-Forêt has the top rating of 5, an honour given to only a very few locations in all of France. 

 

 

Take a me a closer look!

 

 

 

 

 

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After our walk we got back on the bus and went the short distance to Château Fleury. Although beautiful, I can’t say I was a fan. It is creepy. It was occupied by the Germans during WWII and then fell into disrepair. The current owner’s parents bought it in 1978 and he inherited it in 1998. There is a doll collection that may be why I  couldn’t wait to leave or that it was stuffy and too hot inside.

 

You judge for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I sew this is the only doll cabinet I was willing to photograph. The dolls were divided into glass rooms by type and task including: convent, bridal, school, garden, kitchen, nurse, and on and on. The current owner’s mother started the collection and people from all over France would send her their family dolls. 

 

 

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they ate ate open for overnight guests if you ate interested. 

[1of4]

Gee, I am so behind!  Sorry about that.  I take pictures on my phone but I actually like to post using my tablet so I can see what I am writing otherwise I make mistakes like in the last post that I don’t see until the editing time is up.

 

So Friday saw us in our first day of two in Rouen.  We signed up for the walking tour and it poured rain until the last 20 minitower so.

 

 

Rouen is the point in the river where the tide is evident and to go any further a pilot has to be on board.  Currently there are 70 pilots on the Seine, one of which is female.

 

Our tour guide was excellent despite the conditions.  She explained the history, current events, architecture as well as how societies of the different era used the space.  We learned a lot.

 

Pictures don’t seem to be loading so I only have one to post at the moment.  Tomorrow is an early day to go to Giverny and Monet’s gardens.  I promise to post pictures when I get back.

 

until then, here is a medieval passageway still in use today.

 

[puppycanducruise]

I'm enjoying seeing your comments and pictures whenever you get to it.

Thank you so much.

[1of4]

I interrupt my report for a report on a scare I just had.  Most of the boat is currently attending a concert at the Chateau de la Roche Guyon.  It runs from 8:00-10:00 tonight but I know my limitations and after checking another bucket list item off my list today by visiting Monet’s gardens at Giverny I am tired.  So I came back to the cabin after dinner to start doing the necessary evils of adding up what we have spent and possibly start to pack as we have 2 more days.

 

my husband walked up to the Chateau with our friends and I opened the bathroom door in our cabin to such a fright!  Lol

 

 

Who knew the Scenic slippers and a bath towel could make me think someone else was in our cabin!

 

we are moored right at the Chateau but it is 100 meters through the gardens so I thought it best to call it quits tonight.

 

 

I have a lovely place to sit, a window that opens half way and anything I want at my fingertips.  I am just fine!  Who needs to pack....

 

 

 

[*Miss G*]

This just looks so serene and perfect.  What a wonderful holiday.  I am looking forward to your report and pics on the gardens!

[Host Jazzbeau]

Miss G:  Veni Vidi, Visa [I came, I saw, I shopped]

[puppycanducruise]

I'd love to see Monet's gardens.  Maybe someday (sigh).

[1of4]

17 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

This just looks so serene and perfect.  What a wonderful holiday.  I am looking forward to your report and pics on the gardens!

 

I seem to be having issues with CC posting pictures so I figure it may be best to wait until I am home on Sunday.  It has been a perfect holiday for us, aside from fabric shopping in Paris (I sew bags) and not being able to leave Monet’s home without going through his studio which is now the gift shop...just like Disney, shopping hasn’t been my focus.  This has been my first holiday with my husband, alone, in 20 years.  It was also a huge test for me to see how much I could push it since I became sick in 2015.

 

The service has been outstanding.  We are really happy with our choice of river and cruise line.

 

[*Miss G*]

What a haul!  You did well. 

[wave rider]

1 of 4, thank you so much for your posting.  We are on Scenic from Budapest to Amsterdam at the end of September and your posts are making it seem more real with each post.  Seeing the daily programs, while not exactly the same as we will have, give us a much better impression of what we will see.  This will be our first river cruise after 16 ocean cruises and now I am very glad we selected Scenic.

 

One last question though.  How was everyone dressed at dinner?  I have several members of our group wondering how they are going to pack for 3 weeks in Europe!

 

Thank you again.

 

Jeff

[Canal archive]

1 of 4 thank you brought back many happy memories of our Scenic Gem cruise, love the legs, over the years we’ve had everything from swans to ET, we even had a lesson on how to do it in the lounge on one cruise. CA

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5 hours ago, wave rider said:

1 of 4, thank you so much for your posting.  We are on Scenic from Budapest to Amsterdam at the end of September and your posts are making it seem more real with each post.  Seeing the daily programs, while not exactly the same as we will have, give us a much better impression of what we will see.  This will be our first river cruise after 16 ocean cruises and now I am very glad we selected Scenic.

 

One last question though.  How was everyone dressed at dinner?  I have several members of our group wondering how they are going to pack for 3 weeks in Europe!

 

Thank you again.

 

Jeff

 

Hi Jeff.

 

I can honestly say I have been in your shoes...only not 3 weeks, but 18 days.  First, there is a line in the shower.  Second, the free laundry bag holds a lot, much more than expected.  My DH and I packed in: 9 pair of socks, 12 pair of underwear, 3 bras (okay they were mine, not his), one pair of capris, 2 pair of trousers, 3 shorts, 2 dress shirts, 2 golf shirts and 2 t-shirts from what I recall and there was still room in that bag.  The 1 kg/stateroom was not a thing they worried about and if you put it out in the morning it was back before dinner.

 

To answer your question though, honestly we have seen everything.  They request no shorts at dinner but I have seen them, not on many but nobody was turned away.  Most men wore pants and a shortsleeved shirt with a collar; either golf style or buttoned shirt.  Most women wore pants and top or a summer dress but not too dressy.  I wore a lot Capri pants and blouses to dinner.  A wrap is handy as the lounge and dining room can be breezy with the air conditioning.  There are 2 gala dinners where a dress shirt CAN be worn by the men.  A few had ties, more had a jacket, but not all.

 

please as any questions that come up.  I’m sure you will have a fabulous time!

[Ritabob]

Loving your report!   

I'm interested in seeing a picture of the fabrics you bought.  Our first river cruise, years ago, was in the south of France and I bought fabric in almost every town we stopped in. I have continued that tradition and now have sewn an extensive collection of dinner napkins, place mats, etc we use every day .  A great reminder of wonderful vacations.

RB

[1of4]

8 hours ago, Ritabob said:

Loving your report!   

I'm interested in seeing a picture of the fabrics you bought.  Our first river cruise, years ago, was in the south of France and I bought fabric in almost every town we stopped in. I have continued that tradition and now have sewn an extensive collection of dinner napkins, place mats, etc we use every day .  A great reminder of wonderful vacations.

RB

 

What a great idea. I just loved being in the fabric district and browsing through the streets and shops. What fun!

 

Photos aren’t loading so I will try later. 

Edited August 16, 2019 by 1of4

[cruiseryyc]

Love your report, brought back so many memories.  However you haven't mentioned your days at the Somme or Normandy - did you not go there?

[1of4]

5 hours ago, cruiseryyc said:

Love your report, brought back so many memories.  However you haven't mentioned your days at the Somme or Normandy - did you not go there?

 

I got sidetracked in Rouen then couldn’t load pictures so will when we get home.  I personally did not go to The Somme as it was too long a bus ride and day given my condition but my husband did and it was his favourite part of the trip.  I did go to the D-Day beaches of Sword and Juno plus 2 cemeteries.  I will start writing my daily summaries when I get home on Sunday and have unpacked.  I think the photos add so much to the reports.

 

Goodnight from our last night on-board the Scenic Gem.

 

 

Edited August 16, 2019 by 1of4

[1of4]

And this is how disembarkation works.  Everyone has a different time.  You don’t put your luggage outside your door until your time, 45 minutes before you leave. Taxis and vans are called to take you to your destination.  We are asked to be out of our cabins by 8:30 in the morning so they can be prepared for the next guests but we have full use of the boat and it’s facilities all day if we want.

 

 

 

[1of4]

We are home.  Mixed feelings.  Much life has to happen in the next week with doctor appointments, picking DS up from camp (can’t wait) and taking DD to university (sniff).  This was one amazing vacation and we will definitely do another.  I can’t say enough about the Scenic crew and how attentive and accommodating they are to all passengers.  Nothing is too much trouble, or you would never know it.

 

 I will finish up my day reports but my head is spinning from flying yesterday.  But I did photograph some pages of the cabin manual that I thought may be of interest.  We were on the Scenic Gem.

 

 

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Welcome home.

Hope your medical appointments go well.

I'm pleased to read that you will cruise again.

Looking forward to reading more about this trip.

[1of4]

More from cabin manual.  These may be out of order as the thumbnails are too small for me to read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Finally,

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

I really enjoyed following along (quietly). We have never done a river cruise.  You’re information and photos were such a great asset for anyone thinking of doing this.  Thank you.