Bonjour Odessa!

Paris – a lot of you know my husband, Gerald, and I went to Paris in December of last year. It was amazing, far beyond all our expectations. If not of Paris, at least of the Viking Cruise.

We flew over on Lufthansa Airlines. Funny story – I switched us from Air France to Lufthansa with the Viking Cruise airline specialist only to have Lufthansa go on a one day strike two days before we left affecting over 30,000 flyers. No, no, no !

There were no flight issues for us and we arrived on time in Paris. After being picked up by the Viking limo driver, we arrived at the ship for a quick unpack and the required safety drill. Next we attended the Welcome Aboard event held by the amazing program director who outlined our cruise program. Then we had dinner in the Viking Restaurant – stunning! The ship also has a maitre d’hotel. She was there to arrange special seating, birthday parties and more. After dinner each evening there was live music in the lounge featuring the onboard musician Blondie, dancing, friends, board games, cards and more.

Now, the history of France, as presented on our daily sheet: 1) Excavations indicate that France has been settled since Paleolithic times. The Celts, who were later called Gauls by the Romans, migrated from the Rhine Valley into what now is France. 2) Julius Caesar conquered part of Gaul in 52 B.C. and it remained Roman until the Franks invaded in the fifth century A.D. 3) The French monarchy was at the height of its power and glory in the seventeenth century, under the reign of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. Two decades into his long reign, he began turning his father’s hunting lodge into what was to become the most extravagant building of all, the Palace of Versailles. 4) The French revolution plunged France into a bloodbath beginning in 1789 with the forming of the First Republic and ending with a new authorization under Napoleon Bonaparte, who crowned himself emperor in 1804. 5) In 1940 Germans marched into an undefended Paris. France was split into an occupied north and unoccupied south, Vichy France, which became a German puppet state and the new capital of France. 6) Allied armies liberated France in August 1944 and a temporary government was set up in Paris, headed by General Charles de Gaulle. On December 24, 1946, the Fourth Republic was born. 7) Since 1789 France has had no less than 11 constitutions. The most recent one, which still applies today, was established in 1958 by Charles de Gaulle, who was president of France at this time. This constitution has become known as the Fifth Republic.

Fast facts – Paris is the capital city of France and is situated on the Seine River. Around 44 million tourists from across the globe visit Paris each year, making it the most popular city destination on the planet.

Next, go with the flow of the Seine River and visiting inside the Louvre for a three-hour tour. I look forward to sharing Day Two with all of you.