Welcome Aboard Avalon Artistry II

CRUISE EUROPE IN STYLE

We'd had a complete day of sightseeing on our pre-cruise excursion, and after a short walk up the gangway, we were greeted by the ship's officers, cruise director, and many of the crew members of Avalon Artistry II.   This would be our floating home for the next 12 nights.

We've already told you about the embarkation process and evening's activities in our other posts.  We'll share a few more images of the ship in this article and accompanying photo album, from our initial exploration.

But first, we'd like to tell you about the Artistry II and what makes her a great vessel for exploring Europe.


About Artistry II

Sail the legendary rivers of Europe aboard the sleek Avalon Artistry II. Two full decks of suite accommodations include wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to create a lovely balcony for enjoying fresh breezes and enchanting scenery. Choose your pace for sightseeing tours led by friendly knowledgeable certified guides, then treat yourself to a manicure, or relax in the hot tub on the Sun Deck and watch the world go by. lndulge in a delicious four-course dinner in the spectacular dining room with panoramic views, or opt for a light dinner featuring local specialties and regional wines in the charming Panorama Bistro. Step aboard, settle into your luxurious river-view stateroom, and immerse yourself in the culture, cuisine, and breathtaking scenery of some of Europe's most picturesque river valleys.

Ship Statistics

Name: Avalon Artistry II	Ship Completed Date: 1/1/2013
Christened By: Marilen Sandejas-Yaptangco	Capacity: 128
Number of Crew, Nationality: 37, European	Length: 361 feet
Number of Passenger Decks: 4	Number of Outside Rooms: 64
Number of Restaurants: 3	Number of Elevators: 1
Voltage: 110/220	Non-Smoking Dining: Yes
Non-Smoking Ship: Yes

About Avalon Waterways

Not all cruises are created equal. When you select an Avalon Waterways River Cruise, you are making the decision to immerse yourself in the utmost indulgence in cruising. Avalon Waterways offers its signature Avalon Choice^SM to all passengers, allowing you to design the perfect European river cruise experience based solely around your personal preferences. Uniquely crafted with luxurious details at every turn, Avalon Waterways provides the small-ship feel with all the posh and decadence of a five-star resort. Contemporary décor, wall-to-wall panorama windows and elegant finishes abound to lend a captivating and comforting air.

^{Additional photos can be found on our Rhine & Moselle Shutterfly page}

Avalon Artistry II

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Felsenegg Lookout

Zurich's Panoramic Restaurant

click on images to enlarge

After touring the National Museum, it was time for some lunch, so we inquired about getting to the Panoramic Restaurant.

The guide book that came with the ZürichCARD didn't provide details about how to get to the restaurant for some reason. Since we'd left all our printed information back at the hotel, we figured the main train station information booth was our best bet for obtaining directions. They could tell us about how to get there and they also directed us to the tourist information desk for more details about our other plans.

 
Getting There

This short trip takes you up to one of the nicest lookout points in the Zurich area: Felsenegg. Getting up there is fun, with the only aerial cable car operating in the canton of Zurich.

First, take the S4 train in direction Langnau-Gattikon and get off after 15 minutes in Adliswil. From there it's a well sign-posted 10-minute walk to the valley station of the aerial cable car, which leaves every 15 minutes for Felsenegg.

  Journey to the Top ...

Once you are up there, refresh yourself in the restaurant and of course take in the view of the city, the lake and the Alps.

 We had ham & Swiss cheese sandwiches with an apple strudel for dessert.   It was excellent (and the view was great too).   It was well worth the effort to get there.

^{Additional photos can be found on our Rhine & Moselle Shutterfly page:} 

 Zurich - Felsenegg

 
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Excursion to Eze

OFF THE 

BEATEN  PATH

As we mentioned in our previous post, Cruising to Monte Carlo Monaco, there are several options for exploration using Monte Carlo as your base of operations..  Monte Carlo lies at the heart of the Riviera.

Stunning scenery and charming seaside resorts are to be found in either direction along the Golden Corniche routes.

Join me as we venture off the beaten path to Eze, France, a small community up the coast, northeast of Nice and set between Nice and the city of Monte Carlo. Driving along the winding roads we have glimpses of Monte Carlo and other seaside resorts. It is early morning and the fog hasn't quite burned off, but yet we can see quite a distance. After a while we arrive at our destination.

The fortified settlement of Eze sits proudly on a huge rock at the top of a narrow winding road, with the friendly village sprawled haphazardly beneath the castle and grounds.  It is known as the 'eagle's nest' because of its location 1,400 feet above sea level.


There are many interesting sites in this charming medieval village of Eze that forms a circular pattern around the base of the old castle. We ascend the path through the village’s arched passages, stone alleyways, and ancient fountains.  Eze has many shops, art galleries, hotels and cafes for us to explore. Even in the fog it offers gorgeous panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Along the way, we visit the charming church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption (Our Lady of the Assumption) built in 1764. Eglise Notre-Dame De L’ Assomption is situated at the heart of the famous eagle’s nest. The church stands out from the village’s medieval architecture because of its classic façade, characterized by the bell-tower. Consecrated in 1772, the church has beautiful Baroque altarpieces.

The Jardin d'Eze, known in the past as the exotic garden, offers a range of attractions to discover plants, history and traditions of Eze...

Arriving at the summit we discover the Jardin d' Eze (Exotic Garden) where all sorts of cactus plants are in bloom. There is a minimal entrance fee, included in our tour price, to enter the gardens. Our guide leaves us to explore at our own pace.

This is a multi-level garden with a winding path that leads to the peak of the hill. The panoramic views become more breathtaking the higher you go, so it was worth the climb to the peak.

When we were about to leave the exotic gardens, it started to rain gently. Just enough rain fell to make the descent from the top of the hill a bit treacherous. The hand rails came in quite handy as we made our way to the foot of the hill.

We joined our guide again at the PARFUMERIE GALIMARD. Here we learned about the art of making perfume. While this isn't a working plant, the various ingredients and machinery are on display.

There is a lab filled with every imaginable ingredient that can be blended into your own special scent. Two girls were in the process of making their own unique blends of perfume in the lab.

It's time to try some samples and make our own purchases before getting back on the motorcoach for the ride back to the pier. The images here are just a few of the ones we took. More can be found on our Facebook Fan Page in Off the Beaten Path - Eze.

Additional photos can be found on our Facebook Albums.




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