Arrival in Paris -- Oops, Les Andelys

Riding the Atlanta airport train from domestic to international terminals proved interesting.  Just as the last lady in our group raced to the train, the doors closed before she could jump on.  Jerry managed to thrust his arm out and blocked the door from closing.  The conductor blared a command to quit blocking the door, but our hero Jerry held on until she climbed aboard the crowded train.  As we gripped poles on the speeding train, another lady in our group declared, “This ride is just like pole dancing!”  I knew at that moment this would be a fun group! 

Flying overnight from Atlanta, with the help of an Ambien, a glass of wine and a  very exhausting week, I slept well (in economy!) awoke refreshed and anxious  to see one of my favorite cities—Paris!  An AmaWaterways rep met us in the Arrivals Hall of Charles de Gaulle Airport with a slight change of plans.  One of the locks on the Seine River west of Paris had broken and the AmaLegro could not cruise back to Paris until repairs were made.  We were, instead,  driven to Les Andelys, about 80km west of Paris, where our  ship awaited us. 

A lovely arrival greeted us as we boarded the ship – the lounge area had snacks, drinks and comfortable sofas for those who were tired and wanted to just curl up and rest.  The rest of us decided to explore this charming Normandy village of Les Andelys.  The village had a gothic church not quote as impressive as some in Paris but  a lovely structure with works by several well-known artists.

from several well-known artists.  Les Andelys was filled with lovely old buildings, many of them half-timbered structures. 

The highlight of our explorations, however, was a steep climb up the hill to the 13^th century Chateau Gailiard.  Richard

the Lionheart’s masterpiece of military architecture resembled forts built by the Crusaders.  We were definitely breathless as we reached the top but were rewarded with breathtaking views of Les Andelys and the Seine valley below.

Tonight Jerry and I have been invited to join the captain for dinner.  Looking forward to a fun evening.

Tomorrow morning we sail to Vernon and from there visit Giverny, the home of Claude Monet.  I love his paintings and am looking forward to touring that region.

Follow us tomorrow as we cruise along the Seine River enroute to the coast.

Linda