Bed And Breakfast Colmar France

SAM SAYS: River cruise is great way to spend a vacation

Are you the only one you know has not been on a cruise? A river cruise combines the "all-in" of one. All-inclusive, with cultural guides a tour bus, the casualness of a living room do-it-yourself, and you unpack once we have made Avalon Waterways route on the romantic Rhine Mrs. Bliss A Cruise River is perfect for people who want a little structure in their visit, with plenty of time to wander on their own, and who like to socialize with new people.There would always be a group of men, mostly on the upper deck watching the boat traffic on the Rhine, to discuss serious issues such as the size and tugs. There would also be a group in the living room to linger over a glass of wine, discuss their lives, dogs and children with the pleasant sound of a piano in the background. I spent several lazy afternoons watching the sail by the landscapes in the comfort of my queen size bed and a comfortable bed, it was too. In fact, our home away from home was very comfortable and had everything we needed.We have improved a level to the bridge of Sapphire have the floor to wall ceiling windows that opened, and it was well worth the extra money. The ship can accommodate an open seating for meals. Sometimes, we joined a table, other times we sat at a table for four or six and wait and see who joined us. We are still e-mailing from a group of about 14. The passengers came from all over the world and all spoke English. There were almost as Australia and New Zealand as there was in the United States.There were several families with adult children, many retirees, a number of 40 and 50 somethings, and a couple on their honeymoon the young, but no children. There is a lift for the disabled, but the European narrow cobbled streets are not pleasant for people with walking problems. There are 150 river cruise ships on the Rhine, and docking is an issue. "We reserve our docks for a year in advance," said Captain Manfred Mertens. Although sometimes there were three boats moored together. "Let's see who our new neighbors," says my husband when we docked.It was great fun, because you have crossed the lobby of the other vessel on your way to shore. The food, as a passenger said, is "really, really good." Avalon and truly offers the promise of free-flowing drinks and dinner. They are decent quality wine and beer, often reflecting the area you are cruising. There was also a champagne breakfast for those inclined. You were allowed to bring your own wine and alcohol on the boat, but if you want to drink in a public place, there was a corkage fee. Beer and wine were included dinner.We did not feel ripped off when we joined our new friends in the lounge after dinner, they always had one to two cocktails with time changing depending on the route daily. Pierre, our favorite bartender, was the state of the art - fun, fast and efficient for us to say of the order before the happy hour was over. By the second night, he knew us all by name and drink. The whole crew was exceptional. The boat was so much fun, it was hard to leave, but Europe has called us to explore.The trip began with a canal cruise along the famous canals of Amsterdam, and then we sailed off from Cologne, noon and took a walking tour with a guide we all loved. There was a lot of time to shop later the boat has not sailed to the port was 10:45 pm Next Koblenz with a walking tour, although many of us snuck out tension and did our own thing. A big highlight was passing through the Rhine Gorge sitting on the top deck to take pictures of castles, before docking at Ruedesheimer, a tourist village, but very fun.Mainz was the next port, and we oohed and impressed on the Gutenberg Museum before sailing off to the beautiful Heidelberg. My husband loved the visit of the castle and the wonderful description of the guide. I wandered the streets and took pictures. And next, we visited Strasbourg in France for a walking tour and free time. After lunch, we took off on a campaign tour of the optional wine region of Alsace. The last day, we landed back at Breisach in Germany and took a panoramic tour through the coach of the Black Forest. Some zealous after lunch took an optional excursion to Colmar and said it was wonderful.Andrezej was our wonderful cruise director, he has always been front and center, and even off the ship you see, ensuring that no one had a problem. I asked him questions about the route and his response was interesting. "Passengers tell us they want three or four countries, and walks and shore excursions available twice a day. We listen to our passengers." We were all sad to leave the ship in Basel. I would go again in a heartbeat. Column this week travel columnist Sat Ion appears every Friday. She can be reached at samioncreativeservices @ gmail.

Colmar in Alsace: City of History, Art and Wine | Hotel Discret

Tucked east of the French Vosges Mountains is the beguiling medieval town of Colmar, France. It draws visitors with its spell-binding elixir of history, beauty, art and fruit of the vine.  Reminiscent of a setting of one of Charles Perrault’s fairytales, the town features quaint shops, a Venetian-style canal system, Renaissance architecture, and wine to write home about.

This bustling burg of about 70,000 inhabitants is situated in eastern France – an hour’s drive from Strasbourg, France, and Freiburg, Germany. It also can be reached by bus, rail or plane. While Colmar is bigger than a storybook hamlet, it is a far cry from the congested cities of Lyon, Lille and Paris. Seventy years removed from its most recent war, Colmar maintains a balance between peaceful charm and local attractions, allowing visitors to chill with a glass of wine or enliven their days with shopping, museum visits and countless photo ops.

Cultural Diversity

Colmar lies in the fertile Alsace region, marked by wooded hills, small walled villages, vineyards and farmland. The town’s architecture, food and customs reflect a mixture of French and German heritage, owing allegiance to both entities multiple times in its long history. The region’s climate is dry, so it’s highly unlikely rain will derail vacation plans. The average temperature in summer is 27 degrees Celsius, making Colmar the perfect hub for cycling excursions and walkabouts to neighboring vineyards, hamlets, castles and other tourist attractions. Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations are plentiful and varied.

Colmar, the wine capital of the Alsatian district, has been a trading center for more than 1,000 years. It’s mentioned in writings dating to Emperor Charlemagne’s reign in 800 A.D. and in rich detail in text from the mid-12th century. Ten miles west of the Rhine, the town used the river and its tributaries to ship its fish, fowl, wine and other products far and wide. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II granted Colmar freedom and imperial status in 1226.

Alsatian Wine Route

Today, the town’s visitors can sample the region’s wines at street cafes, in upper-end restaurants or at vineyards and wine cellars (winstubs) along the scenic Route des Vins d'Alsace. Expect warm welcomes along the route as proud vintners offer wine tastings of the region’s famous grape varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Tokay Pinot Gris, Muscat d'Alsace, Syvaner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.

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