Don't Worry Be Happy

Drinking Chablis in Chablis.  Chablis is produced using a Chardonnay grape in the Burgundy region. So Chablis is a burgundy wine which I always thought were red. This is one of the many things we learned about Chablis on our wine tour. These are some of the first vineyards we’ve actually seen here.  The second of our 3 tastings that day. Luckily we drove in a van instead of cycling.  We biked up to a huge cave that used to be a quarry. We could actually ride our bikes (cars too) right inside the cave. Inside was a wine tasting area.  Mom and her babies The cycle paths here are quite amazing. For much of the time we've followed along the Yvonne river which is a tributary of the Seine. Most paths are paved and a lot are dedicated. We met very few other people on them. If we did need to use a road, again they were very quiet.  It was a surprise to me but there are many, many locks on these rivers. One day our boat had to go through 11 locks (while we were cycling)....

[Somehow I deleted the original post I had prepared so just a few photos] Another historic cathedral - this one in Sens   Our guide Els managed to sweet talk her way out of a fine for cycling in a no bike zone.  We went to a u-pick strawberry field and topped it off with some delicious strawberry and raspberry sorbet.  So many lovely rest stops  We never did find out what the sirens where for Our group takes a 'reading break' at a little 'free library'. Enjoying a little cocktail in Joigny.

Day 2 and 3 on the boat and cycling through vast farmlands of barley, wheat, corn, canola, sunflowers (not in bloom), poppies.  Riding sweep (at the back of the peleton) in the rain. Luckily only about 20 min at the start of the ride.  You know how much I love the rain!  One of these babies is not like the others.  Our boat Claire d'Etoile (Starlight) The food is ridiculously amazing prepared by our Belgium  Dutch chef Frank. Three course meals every night, elegantly presented and so delicious .  After dinner we started the pétanque competition. It’s like lawn bowling or bocce only with metal balls. Very popular in this part of France. My team didn’t win, but there’s always tomorrow!

With only a couple of days in Paris, and knowing there’d be a bit of jet lag, we didn’t plan much. Spent a few hours at Le Louvre, experienced the city from the hop on hop off bus, managed a few rain showers (intermittent), saw the newly restored Notre Dame (stunningl), and enjoyed some good food. This incredible ceiling is in the room with the French Crown Jewels. It wasn't as crowded as I anticipated for the most famous of them all.  The detail in the stained glass windows in Notre Dame is unbelievable.  I almost managed a selfie without my finger in the way! The flower market   You know all those 'love locks' that people put in bridges? Well it’s now illegal after one bridge partially collapsed under the weight.  Some people still do it and this guy is cutting them off.  Someone’s random art project? After spending a confusing amount of time at the train station trying to figure how to get tickets, which train to take (is it the RER, the R, M, Hall 1,2 or3?) ...