We enjoyed breakfast having said goodbye last evening to several groups with whom we had become friendly.

The Viking Buri Cruise has been a wonderful experience p, excellent food, terrific cabin and facilities.

Impirtantly we found many of the passengers to be friendly and very good companions.

So following breakfast we have a time to pack, then get our cases out by 9.00am then a 3 hour wait to be picked and taken to Gare Par Diem, Lyons TGV Station.

We went up to the lounge and sat and talked to others who had a similar delayed departure.

We exited the ship as new cruisers arrived for the return trip over the next week from Lyon to Avignon. But before Ken talks as to wine and Michael Bright our Tour Director suggested that it is well worth paying for the excellent year of 2015 from St Emilion and Bordeaux.

We arrived at the Station at 1.05pm leaving an hour to departure but with little seating and hoards of people we stood awaiting advices as to the platform. This comes 15 minutes prior to arrival of the TGV from Marseilles to Lyon which then goes on to Paris.

The platform is shambolic with hundreds of people awaiting and on arrival all pushing to get on. We are in Car 1 near the middle first class seats 25 and 26. We get on but people are everywhere, notwithstanding the first or second class tickets. We are downstairs on this trip, we struggle with our luggage, eventually putting it on the floor at end of the carriage beside the luggage storage.

we go to our seats one is taken but he is hoping they are not sold and eventually gives up the seat. Obviously the train is oversold, with people sitting on steps between upper and lower areas.

The trip is fine, but the weather is showery, with regular heavy showers of rain.

The 2 hour trip passes quickly and we arrive in Paris at Gare de Lyon at 4.15pm. Our walk to the exit of Platform G is slow with so many people ( literally hundreds) all wanting to hurry.

We receive a text message from our Blacklane driver that he will meet us beside the front of Platform G in 5 minutes. We find hm easily with the illuminated siping with Ken’s name. Parking is a nightmare, but he is parked almost by the exit. He guides us to the Mercedes, escorts us into the car, then loads our luggage.

Our drive along the Seine River takes passed several iconic monuments including the Notre Dam cathedral with its burnt scars and heavy presence of scaffolding.

Wenturn and drive through Place Del a Concord then into the beautiful 8th arrondisement and finally to La Villa Haussmann where we are greeted upon our return.

Checkin is smooth, we are given our keys to beautiful 307 with a separate walk in shower. We un pack, then decide snacks will do for dinner. Bed time comes early at 9.10pm and we sleep through until 7.35am next morning..

An exciting day of travel nearing the end of a wonderful holiday