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7-night Burgundy and Provence Cruise

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21-night European Masterpiece: The Rhine, Seine And Rhône Revealed With 2 Nights In Lucerne And 2 Nights In French Riviera Cruise/Land Package

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21-night European Masterpiece: The Rhine, Seine And Rhône Revealed With 2 Nights In Lucerne Cruise/Land Package

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Overview

Introduction

Set on the banks of the Rhone River 22 mi/37 km south of Avignon, Arles, France, is where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted during the last months of his life (February 1888-May 1889). The painting of his bedroom in Arles is among his best-known works.

Arles' historical importance extends far beyond Van Gogh's residence there. The picturesque city, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts beautiful architecture, a strong Provencal culture, and one of the most impressive Roman ruins and amphitheater. Arles is an engaging, walkable city where Roman ruins have been incorporated within the houses and buildings of the city.

Geography

The city of Arles is located in the southern region of France and covers an area that is surprisingly seven times larger than that of Paris.

The city sits on the valley of the River Rhone that diverges into two branches, thereby forming the delta of Camargue. It is nestled among the lush les Alpilles, the Crau and the Camargue. Among the neighboring towns are Fourques, Paradou, Tarascon, Beaucaire and Fontvieille.

History

In 700 BC, Arles was founded by the seagoing Phocaeans. It was during this time that the city was a major trade route between Massalia and the inland settlements. Over the years, Arles became the trading settlement of the Ligurians and was called Arelate, meaning "a town by the marshes."

In 150 BC, the Romans landed at Arles, which was one of the busiest river ports in the region. During the first century BC, Julius Caesar handed over the land taken from the Massalian Greek and local tribes to the Roman Legions. Soon, Arles became a second capital to the Roman Empire, popularly known as "The Little Rome of Gaul."

During the Dark Ages, Barbarians destroyed Arles, and the city was rebuilt by Charlemagne in the ninth century. Elegant town houses were erected during the 17th and 18th centuries as a mark of the prosperity of the Arlesian Merchants. In February 1888, Van Gogh settled in Arles and painted an array of breathtaking canvases.

After the establishment of the railroad in the late 1880s, Arles turned its focus on agriculture. It is now a major producer of rice and olive oil.

Potpourri

Arles was home to the world's longest-living person, Jeanne Calment, who lived 122 years, from 1875 to 1997.

Vincent van Gogh did not start painting until he was 27 years old. Although he is known as one of the world's greatest painters, it is reported that he sold only one painting during his lifetime: Red Vineyards Near Arles.

Location

Overview

Introduction

Fierce local pride is a Charleston institution. It has helped sustain the city for more than 300 tumultuous years—from colonial times, through the Revolutionary and Civil wars, to the present. Pride has also sustained hundreds of historic Charleston buildings—a big reason that travelers visit today. Be sure to take a stroll down East Bay Street (especially the section known as Rainbow Row) to admire the pastel houses bedecked with their breeze-cooled piazzas.

Spend some time lolling in the near-tropical warmth of Charleston's beaches, admiring the stoic architecture of The Citadel (the state's military college) or exploring the Charleston historic district, and you'll likely find this a very pleasing corner of the cosmos.

Must See or Do

Sights—The woodwork at the Heyward-Washington House; the work yard at the Aiken-Rhett House; the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon; the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.

Museums—Sterling silver and sweetgrass baskets at the Charleston Museum; the miniature collection and gift shop at the Gibbes Museum of Art; the floating, circular staircase at the Nathaniel Russell House.

Memorable Meals—Fried chicken, sweet tea and Coca-Cola cake at Jestine's Kitchen; anything off the daily changing menu at Husk; anything from the locally sourced daily menu at FIG.

Late Night—Jazz at Charleston Grill at the Charleston Place Hotel; late-night Irish coffee and pie at Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe; relaxing with a Hemingway Daiquiri at Proof; a midnight snack at 39 Rue de Jean.

Walks—A stroll along Rainbow Row, the line of colorful houses on East Bay Street; the gardens at Middleton Place; a walk along the shoreline at Folly Beach; breathtaking views of the harbor from the promenade along Waterfront Park, plus swings for the kids.

Especially for Kids—Native marine-life displays at the South Carolina Aquarium; swamp life at the Magnolia Plantation; the scavenger-hunt map available at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon; interactive exhibits at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry.

Geography

Charleston is on a peninsula bordered by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, which provide a natural, watery barrier that has pushed growth and development toward the north. For instance, King Street, the city's main shopping strip, is now bustling not only on its lower end (long famous for high-quality antiques) but also on its upper end (known for bars, restaurants and shopping that also appeal to the younger set).

The city's original settlers laid out the streets in a checkerboard plan, beginning with the intersection of King and Broad streets, which remains the premier address of old Charleston law and real estate firms. The corner of Broad and Meeting is aptly called the "Four Corners of Law" because of the four types of law represented on each corner: the U.S. Post Office (U.S. law), City Hall (municipal law), South Carolina State Courthouse (state law) and St. Michael's church (God's law).

South of Broad (nicknamed SOB), the residential neighborhood encircled by the harbor, is still the most expensive spot to call home (a few bed-and-breakfasts allow you to do this, if only for a short time). You'll probably hear locals refer to the area around and in between North and South Market streets as "the Market," a popular spot that includes many eateries, touristy shops and the historic covered market, where vendors sell various goods.

Areas such as East Cooper and West Ashley carry the implicit phrase "of the" (as in East of the Cooper), which explains their locations with respect to the city's two rivers and provides visitors with a useful trick to get their bearings.

Various islands dot Charleston's harbor and coast, such as Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, James Island and Kiawah Island, some of which have historic sites, beaches or other attractions.

History

In 1670, a group of English colonists traveled up the Ashley River and settled Charles Towne, named in honor of King Charles II of England. Ten years later, the colony relocated across the river to a more desirable site—the peninsula. By 1690, the city had become the fifth-largest in North America—a port town with busy wharves and a harbor full of sailing ships. But it was the area's tremendously successful rice-cultivation industry, made possible by the knowledge of enslaved people from the rice-growing regions of Sierra Leone, that made it rich. The Lowcountry rice plantations proved so profitable that their owners filled the city and countryside with elegant mansions.

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776, Col. William Moultrie's fort on Sullivan's Island held against the firing of British forces, giving the new nation one of its first victories. After the war, Charles Towne became the city of Charleston, and its native sons played a key role in the formation of the new national government.

The city prospered and grew tremendously in the antebellum period. Charleston's rich plantation economy depended on an enslaved labor force. Africans and African Americans not only worked on the plantations, but also served as domestic servants and craftspeople in the city. The antebellum structures that remain today were built by slaves.

Tensions over states' rights and slavery led the state of South Carolina to secede from the U.S. in December 1860. Charlestonians cheered from the rooftops as the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Though the Confederates won that battle, the ensuing siege nearly destroyed Charleston. The war brought an end to slavery and forever changed the city's way of life. By the early 1900s, phosphate mining and a navy yard were bringing jobs and new residents to Charleston.

The city's wealth of architectural gems survives in no small part because of local citizens who, during the 1920s and '30s, formed the country's first historic district with regulatory control, thus preserving the structures. In the 1970s, the abundance of historic buildings and rich legacy were finally tapped by the Charleston Chamber of Commerce. Travelers still visit Charleston for its architecture, southern charm and appealing seaside climate.

Potpourri

According to Charleston legend, an African American butler by the name of William Deas created the world-renowned she-crab soup at the John Rutledge Inn.

Charleston hasn't only been prone to the ravages of civil war and hurricanes. On 31 August 1886, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the city, killing 110 people and causing major damage to the city's buildings.

During the colonial era, Charleston was enclosed by a fortification wall with defensive bastions to protect it from invasion by pirates and enemies of the English empire. The wall was later removed. But, wall or no wall, Charleston shares its history with some of the most infamous pirates of all time, including Irish-born Anne Bonney, Edward Teach (known as Blackbeard) and "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet.

The Charleston, a famous 1920s-era dance, started in Charleston and was patterned after Gullah dance steps.

Comedian Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report grew up in Charleston and attended Porter-Gaud, a prestigious local prep school.

The Charleston area is home to a large number of best-selling novelists, including Pat Conroy, Sue Monk Kidd, Dorothea Benton Frank, Mary Alice Monroe and fantasy author Robert Jordan.

Sullivan's Island, home of Fort Moultrie, which sits at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and was the site of significant action during the Revolutionary War, has been featured in works by both contemporary novelist Pat Conroy and dark poet Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's story The Gold Bug was set there.

Charleston is also known as the "Holy City" because of the prevalence of church steeples on the city skyline. There are more than 400 houses of worship throughout the city. The oldest church, St. Michael's, dates back to 1761.

Location

Cruise ships dock at Charleston's Union Pier Passenger Terminal, located by the harbor at Market Street and near the center of the city's Historic District. Representatives from the convention and visitors bureau staff the terminal during port-of-call arrivals, offering information and visitors guides.

Transportation services are easily accessible, with taxis lined up on nearby Concord Street. Short-term parking is available for the general public. Reservations are not required for long-term parking, but it's only available for cruise line passengers. A shuttle service operates between the terminal and parking lots. Many restaurants are located within walking distance of the terminal. Phone 843-577-8189. http://www.port-of-charleston.com/locations/cruise-terminal.

Shore Excursions

Overview

Introduction

Situated in the middle of the state's western region, Charleston is the state capital and West Virginia's largest city. Be sure to visit the Cass Gilbert-designed state Capitol with its six types of marble and striking gold-colored dome. The area around the Capitol has many other worthwhile sights: the Governor's Mansion, the Booker T. Washington Memorial and the West Virginia State Museum (aka the Cultural Center), which has exhibits depicting state history.

The Sunrise Museum is a combination art and science museum housed in two large mansions. Stern-wheeler rides on the river are another possibility. Schedule at least a full day to see Charleston.

Overview

Introduction

This ramshackle town is a pleasant place to spend a few hours limin'— the fine art of sitting around with folks doing nothing in particular. Most of the sights are a few blocks from the harbor, which has been spruced up to include covered benches, snack bars and craft shops. You can easily tour the town on foot. Some downtown buildings, constructed with dark volcanic rock, date from the 1600s. Restoration efforts are under way throughout, further clogging the town's already narrow streets. The only time this town seems busy in any way is when the ferry from St. Kitts pulls in to port.

The remains of a Jewish synagogue, dating from 1679 (it's thought to be one of the oldest in the region), have been excavated, but there isn't much to see. The Jewish Cemetery, however, is worth a stop.

Memorial Square, in the center of Main Street, honors those who served in World War I. The coral-stone building facing the square—the one with the boxy clock tower—is the courthouse. Nearby is the marketplace, which is full of produce sellers everyday but Sunday. Other sights include the ornate Charlestown Methodist Church on Chapel Street and St. Thomas' Church. The churchyard has some of the oldest tombstones on the island. After you've seen Charlestown, hire a taxi driver to show you around the island or rent a car. Be prepared for a wild ride: The main road, which circles the base of Mount Nevis, is narrow and winding.

The small fishing village of Newcastle, on the northern side of the island, is home to the Vance W. Amory International Airport, and you can watch Nevis cooking pots being made from red clay at Newcastle Pottery. (You can buy some of the pots, too.) The ruins at Eden Brown Estate, halfway up the east coast, give only a partial picture of a house built in the early 1800s by a wealthy planter as a wedding gift for his daughter. On your way back to Charlestown, stop at the ruins of Fort Ashby, a major stronghold for the British in the 1700s. It protected the original Jamestown Settlement.

Overview

Introduction

This town and surrounding coastal region is a popular summer retreat for vacationers from throughout the Northeast. It's famed for its broad, sandy beaches along the Atlantic. Also worth visiting are the Kimball Wildlife Refuge, a great place for bird watching, and Ninigret Park, with 172 acres/69 hectares of land including nature trails, picnic areas and a swimming pond.

History buffs will enjoy the Royal Indian Burial Ground (a cemetery of the Narragansett), the 1859 Indian Church (one of only three Native American churches remaining in the state, open to visitors only on Sunday) and a restored one-room schoolhouse from the 1800s.

If you're in Charlestown in August, be sure to experience the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival, a daylong seafood smorgasbord that is one of Rhode Island's premier annual events. The Rhythm and Roots Festival in Ninigret Park also attracts a crowd—it takes place each Labor Day weekend and features musical performances by well-known bluegrass, Cajun and zydeco artists. 35 mi/55 km southwest of Providence.

Overview

Introduction

Set on both the Calcasieu River (pronounced cal-cuh-shoo) and the lake from which it takes its name, Lake Charles, Louisiana, is a deep-water port and industrial center in the southwestern corner of the state, 180 mi/290 km west of New Orleans. The industrial quality of the city tends to overshadow its other features. Visit the Imperial Calcasieu Museum (historical displays and an art gallery) and take a riding or walking tour of the historic district, which features many fine old homes.

The city's lakefront is now all but dominated by casinos, many of them from across the nearby Texas state line. Horse racing, a more traditional local gambling option, takes place at Delta Downs in nearby Vinton, where Thoroughbred racing takes place September-March and quarter-horse matches are April-August.

The Creole Nature Trail (Highway 27) is a huge area that contains marshes full of birds, ducks, geese, alligators, and a variety of flowers and plants. The highlight is the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Walking Trail. Parts of this path into the marsh are planked over; others are raised dirt. If alligators are blocking your way, just turn around and head back.

Lake Charles and the area between the city and the Gulf of Mexico suffered great damage during the 2020 hurricane season. Recovery is in progress, but will take time.