tink asked:
Day 1 – Depart USA
Day 2 – Arrive London (2 nights)
Day 3 – London sightseeing & at leisure; Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Day 4 – London – Bruges – Brussels
drive to Dover for our short sea crossing to Calais in France. Over the border we drive through the Belgian countryside to medieval Bruges where we can walk along the cobbled streets beside the peaceful canals. Atomium, the Royal Palaces and a walk to see the Manneken Pis. .
Day 5 – Brussels – Rhine Cruise – Heidelberg – Rhineland
Our first stop today is at Cologne to see its gothic cathedral. Then we travel via Bonn, Beethoven’s birthplace, to Boppard for a relaxing Rhine cruise. We will disembark in St. Goar and continue on by coach to view Heidelberg Castle before arriving at our Rhineland hotel for the night.
Day 6 – Rhineland – Black Forest – Rhine Falls – Lucerne
Black Forest to admire the mighty Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. Then we continue into Switzerland, and soon arrive at lakeside Lucerne.
Day 7 – Lucerne – Venice
Lion Monument and the old town walls and our Tour Director shows us a Hidden Treasure as well! Later, enjoy awesome scenery as we head into Italy and via Milan to magical Venice.
Day 8 – Venice – Rome (2 nights)
This morning relax and take in the sights of this city on an included canal cruise by private motor launch to St. Mark’s Square, where we view the Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace before witnessing a demonstration of the ancient art of glassblowing. Later, we cross the fertile Po Valley to Bologna and join the Autostrada del Sole across the forested Apennine Mountains to Rome, the Eternal City.
Day 9 – Rome sightseeing & at leisure
We visit St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which includes the moving Pieta of Michelangelo and St. Peter’s Square. Then we cross the Tiber to overlook the Forum and the mighty Colosseum and to see the Circus Maximus, scene of ‘Ben Hur’ style chariot races.
Day 10 – Rome – Florence
Travel through the hill towns of Umbria and the Chianti wine producing region of Tuscany to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. On our arrival a walking tour, include the cathedral, baptistery, Signoria Square and a visit to the Santa Croce Basilica.
Day 11 – Florence – Pisa – Monaco – Nice (2 nights)
Our first stop this morning is at Pisa to see its intriguing Leaning Tower. From here we continue past the marble quarries of Carrara and along the Motorway of Flowers, passing Genoa, birthplace of Christopher Columbus, to the French border. Soon after we visit the Principality of Monaco where we see the Monte Carlo casinos. Then onto Nice, capital of the spectacular French Riviera.
Day 12 – Nice – At leisure
Day 13 – Nice – Lyon – TGV Train – Paris (2 nights)
After breakast today a scenic drive takes us through Provence to Lyon, where we board our rapid and supremely comfortable TGV train. The journey will take us through Burgundy’s fertile vineyards to the fascinating city of Paris.
Day 14 – Paris sightseeing & at leisure
First with a local guide we drive from the Place de la Concorde along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and then ascend to the second level of the Eiffel Tower by elevator for amazing views over the city. Next we enjoy views of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pont Alexandre III. Our Tour Director reveals another Hidden Treasure to us today.
Day 15 – Paris – USA
