Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report Busy in Burgundy: Lyon, Beaune, and Dijon Bookended with a Day in Paris

Background

This would be our fifth trip to France over the last twenty-four years having previously explored Paris, the Normandy region, the Loire, Provence, a Xmas market trip to Strasbourg, Colmar, and surrounding villages (Basel, too!), and the Dordogne and Perigord region. This time it was Lyon, Beaune, and Dijon! My spouse, Linda, and I travel well together having similar interests in history, museums, cathedrals, old buildings, and monarchies. My spouse’s BF from college, Linda AKA Cecil, and her cousin, Karen, also traveled with us. Karen hadn’t been to France before, and both Karen and Cecil LOVE wine so we focused on the Burgundy region, an area that interested all of us.

Last summer I started shopping for United tickets for this late May 2025 trip. We have been United flyers for so long complete with Mileage Plus credit cards. We both qualified for Silver Premier status this year (thanks to a two-night trip to Las Vegas in December to cross the finish line) the main benefit giving us the ability to upgrade without charge to Economy Plus at check-in if seats are available. Linda qualified last year as well, and we were able to upgrade on most of our trips as UA allows the premier member to extend the benefit to one another person on his/her reservation. Always nice to have extra leg room and sit closer to the front of the plane.

Because Linda had just enough miles to cash in for a RT Business flight, I let that be the guide in choosing the when. So in July, Linda cashed in 325,000 miles for her ticket and we spent $5,449.10 on mine. Yikes! I kept re-checking the price of my ticket every so often hoping it would decrease, and I’d apply for a travel credit, but it never went below that amount. Sadly, once you have flown Business Class on international flights, you can never go back, I mean, you can, but we won’t! I cringed at my ticket cost as we purchased RT Business class seats last year SFO to LHR for a bargain of $2,600 each.

Our itinerary: one night in Paris in case of flights delays, then train to Lyon the following day for three nights in Lyon, two nights in Beaune, two nights in Dijon, and the last night at CDG for ease with a 9:15AM home-bound flight.

For folks who like pre-arrival details:

· I purchased all the train tickets (Paris to Lyon, Lyon to Beaune, Dijon to Paris) via Trainline when the cheapest tickets went on sale. Since first class wasn’t much different in price, I opted for first class on the Paris to Lyon trip and the Dijon to Paris run. Having the Trainline app was handy to store all the information and monitor our trips although I am still a sucker for printed tickets.

· Decided to hire a driver from Beaune to Dijon, hotel-to-hotel. Figured that would be easier than hauling four women and four pieces of luggage back to the Beaune station, getting on the train, and then getting a taxi from the Dijon train station to the hotel. It would be pricier coming in at 110 euros but split among us wasn’t too bad of a hit. I booked through Safari tours as that was the most credible option and the least expensive and the most responsive. No tour of course, but just a straight drive.

· All hotels were booked well in advance based on Tripadvisor, booking.com, guidebooks, Fodors forums, Rick Steves forum, many, many reviews, and my own intuition. Booked the initial Paris hotel and the airport hotel on booking.com as I received a better rate than booking directly. Because I book with booking.com frequently for international trips, I have reached a level that offers good discounts and other perks. Loyalty pays off although when prices are similar, I usually book directly with the hotel.

· I downloaded the Notre Dame app to make reservations and the G7 app for transportation prior as well. We ended up not using the G7 app as Uber worked fine. The first night in Paris the hotel clerk showed us how to buy metro tickets on the Bonjour RATP app. ND tickets are released at midnight Paris time… 3PM California. So three days before our arrival, tickets were released for our arrival day. I quickly booked 4 tickets for 3:30 on arrival day and then on my spouse’s app booked 4 tickets for 4PM as a back up. Tickets went quickly so I highly advise you to book three days in advance.

· I didn’t reserve anything else in advance in Lyon, Beaune, or Dijon because my research led me to believe that lines were not an issue (and they weren’t.) I did, however, book the Dior Museum about a month in advance for that last day in Paris.

Paris: Arrival Day

Arrived on time at CDG at 10:25. We three stood in the taxi line outside the Terminal for the ride to our hotel. I had printed the name of the hotel, the address, and the fixed rate of 56 euros on a 3x5 card and handed it to the driver just to ensure we weren’t going to be taken for a financial “ride.” It was a slow drive…lots of traffic and graffiti covered freeway walls…rather depressing looking. In the past when we were on a tighter budget, we’d take the bus from the airport to the Opera and then metro or taxi from there. Ahhh, arrived at Hotel Parisioner, right around the block from Gare de Lyon where we would take the train to Lyon the following morning.

Hotel Parisianer (just under $300 for the night)

What a convenient train station hotel! We were greeted by the welcoming Miguel. He was helpful, sweet, and knowledgeable about the hotel and the area. Our rooms were ready! I always ask for a quiet(er) room and when he showed Linda and me to our ground floor room right next to the elevator, I began to protest. The noise, I said! You won’t hear a thing, he assured me. And he was correct. What was nice about the king bed room was that it had French doors leading to a little patio. Because of the drizzle no one sat out there with a drink or smoke, so it was ideal to crack open the door for fresh air and made the compact room seem bigger. The included breakfast the next day was in the small lobby: scrambled eggs, meats, cheeses, breads, jams, juices, fruit…the usual fare. I didn’t realize this until after we left but the hotel plastic key holder envelope included a map detailing among other things, the nearest pharmacy, ATM, laundromat, and supermarket. I would highly recommend this hotel if Gare de Lyon access is critical to you.

Back to Paris: Arrival Day

Prior to the trip, I made 3x5 cards with metro directions…just to save time in the station. For example, I made one for Gare de Lyon to the Petit Palace and recorded what line we took and in what direction (end point name) for both ways. When you are half-asleep from jet lag, this was most helpful. It also gave me time pre-trip to analyze the metro map. I am the trip planner and trip leader so anything to keep me on point is worth it. Once Karen arrived from LAX, we headed out to lunch to a bistro around the corner. Fortified, we headed to the Petit Palace to see the Worth exhibit (17 euros). We had never been to the Petit Palace so when I read an article about the exhibit, I thought we could squeeze that in before ND. Charles Worth is known as the father of “haute couture.” Born in England, he came to Paris and opened a shop as a dress designer. I’m not into fashion per se, but I thought it would be an interesting visit. And since we booked the Dior Museum for the end of our trip, it would be an interesting part of the continuum.

Dresses were gathered from various museums for the exhibit. I enjoyed looking at the fashion material choices, the design, and the colors… some quite vibrant! I thought we would have time to look at the rest of the Petit Palace but we were all flagging. We took the metro to the ND area and walked to the front of the cathedral to see a long, long, long line. That was the non-reservation line! For reservations, we sailed in… a little earlier than our set time. No problem.

What a joy! On prior visits, Notre Dame was dark and dingy. Now, it was full of light and energy. You were more or less forced to follow the crowd around the periphery but fortunately not so crowded that you couldn’t stop for a bit and take it all in or take a seat in a pew. We had seen a 60 Minutes program about the rehab of ND and yes, the restoration was wonderful.

Returning to the hotel, we crashed. I nipped out to the patisserie across the street from the hotel (Miguel’s favorite of the ones nearby) and purchased the first of many almond croissants…our dinner that night.

Lyon

Getting to the train station was a hop, skip, and a jump. I love train stations! Those high ceilings crisscrossed with metal and glass, Le Train Bleu glimmering in the background (we arrived too late for our lunch reservation on arrival day), and the overall excitement of travelling on a European train. On the train, a steward came by offering free coffee or bottled water along with a cookie or a small salami croissant with a handwipe. We caught a taxi to our hotel, Hotel Bayard Bellecour right on the famous Place Bellecour, the largest pedestrian square in Europe.

Hotel Bayard Bellecour (759 euros for 3 nights; breakfast included)

This was probably the most stereotypical French hotel (minus a bidet) we have ever occupied. It was like something out of movie set. I had poured over the website photos and read reviews to find only a few rooms had a walk-in shower. Because I am somewhat of a klutz, I didn’t want to have to hike my leg over a claw-foot tub to take a shower. That limited us to one of two rooms and our friends were limited to really one room that could have twin beds AND a walk-in shower. We knew there wasn’t an elevator to those particular rooms, but we booked it anyway. The various staff members who answered my emails for room and restaurant specifics were always cordial and helpful.

Our room ended up being room 12 in this 17th century building. Once you enter the front door of the hotel, you walk through a narrow corridor, ring a bell to be let in another door, walk up a short flight and a half of stairs, and voila, you are in the lobby. Our room was further down the hall past the lobby, take a right, and the room was on the left. It was long and large! The initial room on the right was a toilet and sink, then the bed with nightstands, followed by a sitting room area with two small chairs, tables, bookcases, a fireplace with a marble mantle, and a tea service. A safe and refrigerator were inside a cupboard. Beyond that was a step up to a large bathroom: tub, walk-in shower, sink, writing desk, and a table with a pitcher on in. There was a small closet with plenty of hangers with two shelves for clothing. Check out the website and you’ll feel the vibe of the place. Because the windows overlooking a small courtyard were only in the bathroom, the bedroom and sitting room were dark…I didn’t care for that. I also didn’t care for the scent of any of the bath/soap products by The Rerum Natura. And that’s one thing I usually look forward to in a new hotel…the soap and lotion offerings.

The location was ideal…right across the street from Place Bellecour, the Bellecour metro, and the tourist information center. It was also close to many restaurants and shops. A bus down the street would have taken us to the train station.

Each morning the included breakfast was amazing. The in-house chef made four or five different cakes every morning: almond muffins or a fruit bread or a chocolate loaf. Scrambled eggs, sliced cheeses, ham and other meats, along with little sandwiches, fruit from a bowl, along with coffee and juices made for quite a spread!. They had reserved a table for the four for us as most of the tables were made for two. We felt very looked out for and pampered.

Stephania at the front desk was a stand-out! She was so helpful, so friendly, so positive! Again, I felt we were in very good hands. When asked for a lunch recommendation, she pointed us to L’Espace down the street. Enjoyed our first of many plat du jours with a Coca Cola Zero while the cousins enjoyed the first of many Burgundian wines.

Lyon Activities

After purchasing an all-day metro pass that first afternoon we headed up to Fourviere Hill via a funicular to the Byzantine-style cathedral (mosaics). Reminded me a bit of Sacre-Coeur and St. Mark’s in Venice though not as big and not as dark and certainly not as old. In the crypt were various sculptures and paintings of Mary presented by various countries. Rounding the corner outside of the cathedral we had a great view of the city of Lyon from a terrace, noting Place Bellecour at one end and the black, barrel-vaulted roof of the Opera House at the other. A short walk from the cathedral was a massive Roman amphitheater, the most ancient in France dating back to Augustus and later expanded by Hadrian surrounded by the sweetest smelling roses.

As we headed back to the metro after visiting the Cathedral St.-Jean at the base of the hill, we were stopped by two young women who told us that the metro entrance we were headed to was closed and that we had to go around the corner, up the street, and go in through the back. Yeah, right. Out of curiosity I looked around the corner and saw two men loitering. Our first and only scam of the trip! The regular Metro entrance was working just fine!

The second-full day in Lyon was a bit of a swizz as my British mother would say. I didn’t realize that Ascension Day in France was a major holiday. Most everything was closed including the two museums I hoped we’d visit that day. It coincided with Cecil’s increasing issue with a really bad cough. Stephania thought the only pharmacy that would be open would be the big one in city center, so we headed there. Not many people were out and about that morning, we enjoyed the walk up the pedestrian-only main street. A few shops were open so were bobbed in and out. Well, neither the main pharmacy was open nor any other pharmacy we saw. We ended up near the Opera House and by one of three silk-dying factories called L’Atelier de Soierie. We enjoyed a visit with the dyer as he showed and explained his process on dyeing Chinese silk. Upstairs was a boutique where a purchase was made!

That afternoon the night clerk at the hotel arranged for a doctor to visit Cecil.

It was a busy night for the doctor as he arrived after 11PM. He prescribed a different inhaler and some other meds, charged 140 euros, and left Cecil feeling good about the visit.

On our last full day after Cecil had her prescription filled, we headed to the Museum of the History of the Resistance and the Deportation (6 euro) which I was really interested in seeing being an avid reader of WWII fiction as well as having English aunts and uncles directly involved in WWII. It was a metro ride, transferring to a tram which dropped up across the street from the museum. The museum was housed in a former French military health school which later became the headquarters for the Gestapo in Lyon. Movie posters in the initial room advertised movies about the Resistance but clearly had not been updated in a while as I could add some such as The New Look and All The Light We Can Not See, World on Fire. Even the gift shop didn’t feature any historical novels (like The Nightingale or any of that ilk).

The exhibit had an audio component, good, but the exhibits were dense and dry, a bit like reading pages from a history book. Yes, there were photos and artifacts but not to the extent that I thought. Having taught middle school for years, I wanted the exhibits to be more engaging for viewers. So many interesting and heartbreaking stories out there about the brave and heroic men and women…I wanted them to bring that to life more. I really wanted to love it, but I was disappointed.

In addition, there was little air movement in the rooms on a warm day. A few fans would have been welcomed.

At the end of the exhibit, a 45-minute video was showing with excerpts from the trial of Klaus Barbie, the butcher of Lyon. We stepped in midway, sank into seats, and watched the heartbreaking testimony and the delivery of the verdict. That was the highlight of the museum.

As the rest of the group rested during the heat of the afternoon, I headed out to the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (8 euros) housed in a former Benedictine abbey. I loved it! Not many people were roaming about so I had unobstructed views of some interesting paintings and sculptures. Layout was good and with thick stone walls, the museum was cool and inviting.

After that I headed to Vieux Lyon to explore the streets and wander in to a few of the traboules that served multiple purposes over the years: providing access to fresh water locations, protecting the silk from the rain when products were ferried through the city, and hiding resistance members when avoiding enemy soldiers. Vieux Lyon was hopping with many tourists licking their gelato scoops or ice cream cones as they maneuvered over the crowded cobble stone streets.

All in all, with the illness and the holiday closures, Lyon was a bit of a letdown for me. I even tried the traditional fish “quenelle” at Le Comptoir des Marroniers and thought it was blah and tasteless. I had four other museum options, but we didn’t get to any of them. Got to be flexible when travelling

Beaune

Called an Uber in Lyon to take us to the train station and arrived in Beaune two hours later. We walked from the train station to the bed and breakfast we’d be staying in…was a bit of a tricky walk especially with one of us under the weather. Took a good 15 minutes on a warm morning. Fortunately, the two rooms were ready so we could relax for a bit and get sorted.

Le Jardins de Lois (413.52 euros for the 2 nights; breakfast included)

When I first saw this B&B website, I knew we had to stay there. Part of a winery, there were five rooms (and an apartment) and in one of those rooms, they could split a king bed into twins for our friends, so staying there worked. Rooms were clean, updated, roomy, and had lots of natural light. The second night we enjoyed a lightning and thunderstorm playing out in the sky. Walk-in shower featuring L’Occitane products (but no lotion and no hair conditioner) and a comfortable king bed with quality linens and comfortable pillows. The towel rack didn’t heat up, the small safe was on the fritz, and there wasn’t any closet area to hang or store clothes. Half the armoire was taken up with the safe and storage items while the other half did not open at all. Not deal breakers but for a long stay, it might wear on a traveler.

The breakfast was limited but sufficient. A croissant was placed on each plate in the morning, scrambled eggs were served on small plates, and the usual meats and cheeses. A small serving of berries and strawberries was allocated to each person. And oh, yes, several cereals. On the buffet table were also these thin, curly, almond cookies. Delicious! I later saw a bag of them at the patisserie around the corner and wondered if they were an area specialty. Because the B&B was part of a winery, the owner does a nightly 5PM pouring of five wines so we scrunched down in the cellar doorway that first night and stepped cautiously down the steps.

The location was ideal as you could view the roof of the hospital (more on the hospital later) from the front of the B&B. It took five minutes to walk to the hospital, door to door. We couldn’t have stayed at a more convenient place! Even the famed La Moutarderie Fallot mustard shop was right around the corner. The husband and wife hosts were kind and welcoming.

Beaune activities

That first day after arrival we headed to the celebrated Saturday Beaune market. The hub of the market was produce stalls from shiny aubergines to tasty seasoned black olives to cheeses to chickens with their flat, pale, lifeless heads still attached to plucked bodies. Craft stalls were present along with great deals on cotton and linen clothing…mostly from Italy. It was interesting to wander. But just prior to exploring the market, we dropped off a load of clothes at the laundromat on Avenue de la Republique where the clerk told us the clothes would be washed in cold water, hung dried, folded, and would be ready at 6PM. Four days worth of clothes for the two of us would cost 20 euros…worth it so we could pack less. When I had asked about laundry facilities months ago the hotel owner said, no worries, five minutes away, and he was right.

After the market we explored the postage-sized town, meandering up this street and down another. We scoped out the Tourist Information center where Cecil and Karen would meet Safari Tours for a 3-hour winery expedition. We visited the wine/cookstore Athenaeum and purchased some cheese from the Alain Hess Cheesemonger shop. We lunched at a bustling café near the market and later walked by the entrance to the hospital where we would visit the following morning. Because we ate lunch rather late, our dinner consisted of cheese, black olives, wine, and some chocolate on the B&B lawn

I can see why the Hospices de Beaune AKA Hotel Dieu is Beaune’s crown jewel. This hospital was founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor. What a fascinating place! I appreciated that the audio guide included “voices” from both the husband and the wife who founded the place, and it wasn’t just a male-centered point of view. Seeing the hospital beds lined up against each wall with a table with a jug, a mug, bowl, and plate for each patient was poignant. We went from room to room looking at artifacts, the kitchen, the pharmacy, the old storage chests, the implements used for surgery….it was all very well done and engaging with 26 stops and explanations on the hand-held audio guide. The roof of the hospital had what is called Burgundian tiles with green, beige, yellow, and brown patterned tiles we would also see later in Dijon. The bell in the belfry still tolled and a (wishing) well was present in the courtyard. The experience left you with a good feeling about man’s compassion for others.

When our friends headed out on the winery tour later that afternoon, Linda and I went out for lunch and sat by another couple who were looking for a home in France. Originally from Connecticut, then Florida, and then Alabama, they had decided to leave the US and settle in the Dordogne region. We had the most enjoyable lunch, chatting with them and hearing their stories and observations. After lunch we walked around a bit more, checked out the cathedral, but it being a Sunday, many places were closed. Later that evening the four of us had a meal at Toma’s in Beaune where I ordered beef bourguignon with roast potatoes, which I really enjoyed. It was a beautiful evening to be outside although the waves of cigarette smoke from nearby tables was something we hadn’t experienced in years living in California.

Dijon

The driver turned up promptly at 9:45 at the B&B and delivered us to our Dijon hotel about 40 minutes later. We checked in at Hotel des Ducs, although we would be staying at a satellite hotel, the Residence du Ducs

Residence du Ducs (284.04 euros for the 2 nights; breakfast 13 euro extra)

This was a five-minute easy walk from the main hotel. In fact, it was down a little offshoot from the main square, the Place de la Liberation which some might term as ground zero for Dijon. I didn’t quite realize what a great location it would be. We had a large room accessed by an elevator called “La Naturalle” while our friends were one floor up in a room called “La Loft.” Walk-in shower, with separate toilet area, OK toiletries, big bedroom area with two closets, a luggage rack and a table for a second luggage. Great lighting with a walk out patio. La Loft was a bit smaller than our room, lacked an outdoor area, but visually was very appealing and would also be comfortable for a long stay. We all scored again. For an adequate breakfast, we paid 13 euros each that first morning; the second we didn’t as we had a nibble at the train station. The Residence rooms were clean and housekeeping did their magic while we were out for the day.

Dijon Activities

That first morning/afternoon we headed directly to the (free) Musee des Beaux Arts. The highlight here would be the tomb of Philip the Bold and his wife, Marguerite of Flanders and the separate tomb for their son, John the Fearless. The tomb memorials were surrounded by tomb sculptures of miniature monks known as the “mourners.” Each two-foot-high monk felt like he had his own personality, facial expression, body posture, draped robe, and whether the face was exposed or not. We had seen these “mourners” in an exhibit many years ago in San Francisco w/out the tombs so it was wonderful to see them in their own home.

The rest of the museum had some great art and sculptures, many reflecting mythological themes. Two floors were devoted to modern art but we skipped those. Later we visited the Tourist Office where I purchased the 4 euro “The Owl’s Trail” brochure. This trail is the way the city encourages tourists to walk around the city while highlighting key areas and buildings. On stop #9 there is an owl carved on the side of the cathedral which when rubbed with your left hand will bring you good luck. On the trail, you’ll find a triangular piece of metal with an owl on it embedded in the sidewalk, so you know you are on track.

We did the Owl Trail on our second full day. At every stop, I’d read aloud the information in the booklet about that building. Again, what a great way to introduce tourists to your city. We saw the park with the famed polar bear statue, the produce market, and many old buildings with one of them dating back to the 1400’s. I just loved Dijon! It reminded me of the old historic city centers like Bruge or Arles. You could see the money the Dukes poured into the architecture…so decorative. The people were friendly, and the streets were clean…perfect for our extended walk. You could make the walk as long as you wanted by going into some of the sites (or shops you’d pass) or just keep it simple by appreciating the exterior.

That second afternoon lunched on the Place de la Liberation. The restaurant Le Pre aux Clercs had a plat du jour of a white fish in a “coral” sauce. Linda and I split the dish which they served already divided with plenty of coral sauce for each of us. In addition, I ordered a side salad, and we shared a side of mashed potatoes and fresh peas with grilled pearl onions. So good!

Back to Paris

On our last full day, we left Dijon for the ride back to Gare de Lyon. This first class carriage had very comfortable and plush seats. After exiting the train, we found the luggage lockers (Rick Steves offers a good description of where to find them). It cost 9.50 euros for one locker that easily fit two 24-inch luggage pieces. You had to use coins but there was a change machine right there. The lockers felt secure as you had to put them through an x-ray machine before entering so not just anyone could walk in to the locker rooms, only those who were using them.

I had debated where we would go for lunch after arriving. Do I look for some quaint place near ND before heading to our Dior 2PM appointment? I was a bit concerned about timing and how a lunch could easily run to 2 hours….in the drizzle. So we ended up at the 5th floor restaurant at the BHV Marais department store. Hotel De Ville was on the same line as Gare de Lyon and the same line as Franklin D. Roosevelt where the Dior Museum was located so it made sense. When we popped out of the Hotel de Ville stop, the store was right there across the street. We jetted up to the fifth floor five minutes before the restaurant opened. I enjoyed a wonderful salad bar with all kinds of tasty salads and shared a bit of Linda’s roasted chicken. It was satisfying, filling, and easy.

We ended up at Dior about half an hour early and they let us in anyway without a second look. What a great decision it was to go there!! You are introduced to Christian Dior first via audios, pictures, and a few of his dresses. Then you go from room to room looking at his and others’ creations from the House of Dior. You get a glimpse of what his workshops looked like, what his office looked like, and there was even a young seamstress working on something in one of the rooms. After watching The New Look last year, we knew we wanted to learn more about Dior and this museum exceeded our expectations.

I had hoped we’d go on to visit the Carnavalet Museum (haven’t been since the renovation) or the Hotel de la Marine in the afternoon but it was getting late. We all headed back to Gare de Lyon to retrieve our luggage. Karen and Cecil headed to Hotel Mansart where they would spend two more days and Linda and I headed to the Holiday Inn Express CDG airport ($176.96). We took a train from Gare de Lyon to Chatelet des Halles and literally crossed the platform to catch the train to CDG. It was a long train ride stuffed with passengers and little ventilation. We exited at Terminal 2 and then took the CDG Val (airport tram) for a few stops and exited at the “Parking PR” stop. The hotel was within sight of the tram station and a brief 5-minute walk. I appreciated the way the hotel emailed me specific directions on the location of the hotel from the airport terminal. Small room, few amenities, but it would work for one night. The breakfast buffet was included in the price which normally would be something we’d take advantage of, but since we were flying Business class, we knew we could breakfast at the Star Alliance Lounge.

The flight home seemed much easier than the flight over. The flight attendants were attentive, the food was edible, and we arrived about 40 minutes early. We both watched and enjoyed a Bob Mackie (85 years old now), the fashion and costume designer ( Cher, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, and the Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday, Mt. President” dress), documentary which brought the whole fashion vibe of the trip full circle.

Final Thoughts:

Lyon has many museums so I think 2 1/2 -3 days would be fine. And if the museums don’t interest you, then I’d suggest you visit Avignon instead of Lyon and take the 2h 40 minute train ride from Avignon to Beaune. However, if you are a foodie, you might appreciate having time to explore the restaurants in Lyon.

Although many see Beaune as a day trip from Dijon having two nights there, particularly when one was Saturday, made for a relaxed experience. If one day is spent at the market, walking around, and maybe the hospital, then the second day could be touring the vineyards in a mini-van with one of the tour companies or your own rental car. Cecil and Karen liked the three-hour tour with Safari Tours and learned a lot about the wines and wine making while enjoying multiple-pourings.

You could explore Dijon…the art museum, the cathedral, and the Owl Trail…in a day, but it would be a very strenuous walking day…so make it an overnight. Two nights gave us 1 ½ days which was perfect for us.

And finally, with a clink of champagne glasses… a toast to my spouse…such a wonderful and supportive travel and life partner. She maintains she is the grease, and I am the glue in the relationship. She makes things happen, and I make things work. Once we were looking at a sculpture in a museum and she said, “You are my muse.” And I replied, “And you are my amuse.” That sums us up!

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame but something wild to run with.”

Robert Brault

“Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.” Leigh Hunt

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

Thank you for reading my report!