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Sète, France

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    Day 27 – Sète, France   Saturday, November 29 Tour - Scenic Sète by Foot Sète, called the “Venice of the Languedoc.” Located on a thin strip of land, Sète received its name from the many canals that crisscross it, linking the Mediterranean to the enclosed saltwater lagoon of Ethang de Thau. Our tour guide pronounced the name of her home town as SET.  Sète is said to be a destination for seafood-loving gourmets and boasts the largest fishing fleet on the French Southern Mediterranean coast.  Classic French Architecture in this port city. The water is so clean here that you can easily see the bottom of the canals.  The canals are connected to the lagoon in which they raise Oysters.  According to our guide, this lagoon produces approximately 15% of the world's oysters.  The water is also so clean that sea horses thrive in the lagoon. The city's crest and official symbol the Whale Christmas has arrived. City is getting Decorated...
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Marseille, France

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    Day 26 – Marseille, France   Friday, November 28 Tour - Historic Religious Sites of Marseille Friends that had been to Marseille said if there was only one thing to see in Marseille, you have to see the Basilica at the top of the hill. so I booked the only tour that would take us there. After a drive through the city to reach the Basilica I knew I would never want to be a bus driver in Marsaille. Narrow streets and really tight turns.Upon arrival the imposing Notre Dame de la Garde is Both a fortress and a sanctuary, the basilica is a neo-Byzantine construction studded with beautiful mosaics and murals, built on top of a Romanesque crypt.   Located on a hill overlooking the Old Port and Frioul archipelago, this is the most visited site in Marseille and the site of a popular Assumption Day pilgrimage. Driving through town, you see row after row of boats. This was after leaving the commercial port.  According to our gui...
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Tour of Monaco

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    Day 25 – Villefranche-sur-Mer, France   Thursday, November 27 Tour - Walking Tour of Monaco The Beauty of Monaco Arriving in the bay of  Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, we anchored in the bay and used tender boats to go back and forth to shore. The 17th Century walls of the city From here, we loaded on Motor Coaches to drive to Monaco Leaving the parking structure, we came out next to the Oceanographic Museum, Jacques Cousteau was the director here for many years. In front of the nuseum is the Yellow two man submarine that Cousteau used for much of his explorations Monaco Cathedral . This is also the Burial Site  This is the burial site of the royal family, including American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly. The Courthouse  In Monaco’s main square, the Place du Palais, see the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, home to the House of Grimaldi since 1297. Above the main entrance are two Monks with Swords.  In 1297 Prince Grimaldi and ...
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