2012 Alumni Travel Program
All travel arrangements by Boscov's Travel
(800) 782-5605
River Cruise ~ Avalon Scenery
Côte d’Azur to Paris
May 15-26, 2011
Itinerary
Day 1
(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight to Nice, France.
Day 2 ~ Côte d’Azur, France
(Mon.) Welcome to France! Enjoy leisure time to get acquainted with your new surroundings. This evening, you may join an OPTIONAL excursion to Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco.
Day 3 ~ Côte d’Azur – Arles (Embarkation)
(Tue.) After breakfast this morning, enjoy a guided stroll through the narrow, winding streets of Nice’s OLD TOWN. After lunch, transfer by motorcoach to Arles in the Provence region, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4 ~ Arles
(Wed.) Enjoy breakfast onboard your ship this morning. On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of St. Trophime, “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road, and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The “Foundation Vincent Van Gogh” is a tribute to the artist. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 ~ Avignon
(Thu.) Enjoy breakfast onboard your ship this morning. The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the “City of Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. A photo of the bridge of the popular song is a must, and optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available this afternoon. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 ~ Cruising - Viviers
(Fri.) Following breakfast onboard your ship, enjoy a leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you glide gently by. The charming town of Viviers was developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman and medieval influences. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 ~ Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne
(Sat.) Enjoy breakfast on your ship this morning. The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. This afternoon, enjoy Vienne, another charming little town surrounded by steep hills. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 ~ Lyon
(Sun.) Enjoy breakfast onboard your ship this morning. Lyon is France’s second largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from FOURVIÈRE HILL and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place Terraux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the “Beaujolais Nouveau” is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9 ~ Mâcon – Tournus – Chalon-sur-Saône
(Mon.) Wake up this morning in Mâcon on the Saône River, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. There’s free time for exploring after breakfast, then enjoy a short cruise to Tournus. Here, the cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, is worth a visit. A choice of OPTIONAL excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. Before dinner, arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10 ~ Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation) –Beaune – Paris
(Tue.) After breakfast, head for Beaune, the unofficial capitol of the Côte d’Or area, which produces the Burgundy region’s finest vintages. Its most famous historical site, the HÔTEL –DIEU charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. After lunch (at your own expense), continue north past the forest of Fontainebleau to Paris, the “City of Light.” (Breakfast)
Day 11 ~ Paris
(Wed.) Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the worlds most famous cabaret shows. (Breakfast)
Day 12 ~ Paris
(Thu.) Following breakfast at your hotel, board your transportation for your return transfer to the airport. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (Breakfast)
Return to the Burgundy & Provence details page.