Month: November 2025

Had to get up for a 9:30 AM flight to the US. This meant we had to have our bags ready outside our room by 6:15. AMA Waterways had everything arranged, including a box breakfast and a van to take us and 4 others from our hotel to the airport. It was raining, I guess Europe was sad to see us go! The airport is relatively close to downtown Geneva so we got there and checked in for our flights quickly. After going through security (no TSA-Pre here!) and passport control we settled into the Priority Pass lounge right next to our departure gate. We relaxed and had some more to eat as I could not eat much of the boxed breakfast which was mostly pastry.

Our flight left Geneva right on time and we were a little early getting to Newark. With Global Entry, US Customs was a breeze. We rechecked our bags and got quickly through security, TSA-Pre is great. Our flight to Milwaukee was on time and we got to the gate in Milwaukee a half hour early. However, just like our departure, they were not ready so we waited twenty minutes for a gate agent to move the jetway. At least our bags were waiting for us. Got an Uber home and collapsed. We did try to stay up as long as we could to minimize the time changes.

As you know, we travel on our stomachs. In addition to a few Christmas gifts, a leather purse and some clothes, we brought back mostly chocolate and mustard, lots of mustard.

Our treasures, including French honey and truffle oil

We did learn that Dijon mustard refers to a recipe not a place of origin. If you look at the picture one of the jars says “Moutard de Bourgogne.” Mustard with this label is for sure made in the Dijon region of France. Don’t have any current plans for our next adventure, but I am sure there will be one!

Our last full day in Europe began with a half day tour of the medieval town of Annecy. Annecy is directly south of Geneva and is in France. There is a close historical connection between Geneva and Annecy. At one time the Dukes of Geneva actually resided in Annecy and when Geneva converted to Calvinism, the Catholic Bishop of Geneva went to Annecy. The bus ride to Annecy was relatively short and the scenery was again beautiful.

View from the bus on the way to Annecy

As part of the history of Annecy, the Old Town was surrounded by the Thiou River and a moat. Because of this Annecy has been referred to as the “Venice of the Alps.” In addition to the moat canals, there is a small island in the middle of the river right in the center of Old Town Annecy. A fortification was constructed on this island which became a court and jail. The buildings have a wonderful pastel coloring and the streets are cobblestone. Fortunately we were there early, as Annecy is a very popular tourist destination. By the time we left shortly after noon, it was beginning to get very busy.

One of the Annecy canals

View of Annecy Old Town with the Alps behind

Us in front of the Palais de L’Ile

Thiou River in Annecy

When we returned to Geneva, we did a little packing and then took local transportation to Manor, an amazing department store in Geneva. The top floor is a very busy food court and we had a light lunch before looking for a few items to being home. We ended up buying a box of Pallanterie Chocolates made by a local manufacturer. Returned to the hotel to finish packing and get ready for a special dinner of cheese fondue at Auberge de Saviese with our new friends Cheryl and Chuck. The fondue was wonderful and they even make the fondue gluten free. I got a separate pot with small potatoes for dipping.

Our table was at the right rear

We have an early flight to Milwaukee tomorrow through Newark, Airport. We will be sad to leave this adventure behind, but glad to be home.

After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, we boarded our bus for a drive around the international sector of Geneva. Our hotel was right on the shore of Lake Leman and we could see a little of the lake from our room.

View of Lake Leman from our hotel

The President Hotel

Our only stop in the international area was at the United Nations Building and the Broken Chair Monument. The UN building was originally the home of the League of Nations formed after World War I. Unfortunately, the League of Nations was not successful in preventing the arms race that lead up to World War II. The Borken Chair was constructed as a protest against anti-personnel weapons like land mines and cluster bombs that often remained after a conflict was concluded and continued to injure non-combatants.

UN Sign

UN Headquarters in Geneva

Broken Chair Monument

After taking pictures at the Broken Chair, we walked in the park next to the UN Headquarters to see some of the sculpture and the Ariana Museum in this park. This museum houses a very large collection of glass and ceramic items.

Ariana Museum

After we left the park, it was back on the bus for a trip to the Old Town of Geneva. While in the Old Town, we learned about the link between Geneva and Calvinism, a reformation religion. John Calvin preached reformation in Geneva and in typical Swiss fashion, there was a referendum and the City adopted Calvinism. While all the Catholic churches were converted to protestant churches, many uncharacteristically kept their saint’s name.

Flags outside City Hall, the Swiss love flags.

Oldest house in Geneva

St. Peter’s Church, a protestant church

After our walking tour of the Old Town section, we got back on the bus to drive to Montreux, a charming town on the shore at the east end of Lake Leman. There we enjoyed some free time and had lunch overlooking the lake. The view of the Alps from the town over the lake was amazing.

View of Alps and Prealps over Lake Leman from Montreux

After lunch we got back on the bus for the short drive to Chillon Castle at the east end of the lake. The castle started as a tower constructed by the House of Savoy to impose tolls on travelers and grew over time. The location is strategic because of the mountains and lake. Travelers going from France or Germany south to Italy must pass by the castle. It was captured by the Swiss in the 16th century, first by the German Swiss from Bern and later by the local French speaking Swiss. We had a tour of the interior of the castle and its many rooms.

Castle Chillon

Interior of Castle Chillon

Linda at Castle Chillon

After the visit we drove back to Geneva and walked along to shore of Lake Lemon to a very nice local restaurant of a quiet dinner alone. Tomorrow is our last day and we are visiting the French town of Annecy.

It was time to say good-bye to the AMACello and go on to Geneva. But first we took a last picture from our cabin of Saint-Jean-de-Losne and the Saone River.

One last view from our cabin

Identified our luggage and boarded our bus to take us to Geneva, Switzerland via Dijon, where we has a short tour of the old town area and time for lunch. We toured through the Duke’s Palace, saw the oldest house in Dijon, some picturesque medieval streets, the Notre Dame Church in Dijon and the Porte Guillaume arch. Had time for a nice lunch and for a little shopping.

Tower from the courtyard of the Duke’s Palace

Medieval street (early Christmas decorations!)

Linda walking toward Notre Dame in Dijon

Oldest House in Dijon

Cafe at Place Francois Rude

Porte Guillaume

After Touring Dijon, we got back on the bus for the trip to Geneva, Switzerland. The ride was pleasant and the scenery beautiful, except the traffic in Geneve delayed us getting to our hotel.

Mountains along the way to Geneva

Finally settled into our hotel and walked to a steakhouse to meet our friends for dinner. Tomorrow, we tour Geneva and Chillon Castle along the shore of Lake Leman, the proper name for what we think of as Lake Geneva.

After a nice breakfast, we got ready for our morning tour. It was to the town of Beaune where there is a museum in the ancient Hotel-Dieu or hospital. It was constructed in the 15th Century as a hospice for the poor sick and homeless, a very early example of Christian charity. The hospice owns a number of vineyards in the area and wine produced in the vineyards supports the hospice. The architecture was amazing. This is an example of a wife spending money to insure her husband makes it to heaven! The building had finishes more lavish than those owned by many nobles at the time. Apparently even though the nurses wore habits like nuns, they were trained lay people.

Inside courtyard of the Hotel-Dieu, note the design of the roof tiles.

Interior of the ward with reconstructed beds, note the privacy the bed’s design afforded the patients

Hotel-Dieu kitchen

Original altarpiece from the Hotel-Dieu

After we toured the Hospice, we has some free time and looked around the town center and also bought some local mustard and honey at the market, we do travel on our stomachs.

Center of Beaune and the local market

Took our tour bus back to Chalon. The large houses in Chalon along the Saone were quite amazing.

Large houses in Chalon next to the AMACello dock

Decided to stay onboard and skip the afternoon tour to a winery, I know it is hard to imagine that, but we wanted to see the scenery along the Saone as we sailed north to our last stop at Saint-Jean-de-Losne where we will leave our home for the past week. We did have a very nice final night dinner with friends we met on the cruise at the Chef’s Table Restaurant.

The AMACello stayed docked overnight in Macon. We decided to skip the morning tour and instead walked into Macon for a little sightseeing and shopping on our own. The docking location was very near the center of Macon so this was quite easy.

Macon Chamber of Commerce Building

Saint Pierre Church

After shopping, we stopped by a cafe for our morning cappuccino and headed back toward the ship along the riverfront.

Linda at the Macon sign

Saone River at Macon

Once aboard, we had lunch followed by a wine tasting and lecture. The wines on this cruise were spectacular and there was something for most everyone’s taste in wine. We also had an opportunity to visit the wheelhouse after we left Macon while cruising toward Chalon-sur-Saone. We learned about the navigation and how close to the low bridges we came as we entered the rain swollen Saone River.

Captain Adam (Yes he is very competent)

Swans on the very high Saone River

Sunset on the Saone

We arrived in Chalon-sur-Saone during an excellent dinner. The food has been wonderful and a great complement to the wine.

Tonight’s main course.

After we arrived at Chalon and docked, a local band came aboard to entertain us. The were great to listen to and a lot of people got up and danced. We stay overnight in Chalon.