Seven Seas Splendor - May 23, 2023

Southampton is the gateway to the immensely civilized city of London. There are museums to visit, pubs to try, and shops to browse, ranging from Harrods to open-air markets. There are more parks and green belts here than in any other city in the world. There are also caches of stately squares and noble monuments, holdovers from a time when the island ruled a significant portion of the globe.

The walled inner town of St. Malo dominates the view as you sail into the harbour of this historic city, making this ancient naval port one of France's top tourist attractions. It is possible to walk the perimeter of the inner town on the ramparts on top of the walls. The walk not only gives fine views of St. Malo itself but also up the valley of the Rance towards Dinard and out over the numerous off shore islets.

It is a commercial port, an important naval station, and the seat of the French Naval Academy. There is a national engineering school in Brest and nearby is the Oceanographic Center of Brittany. The spacious, landlocked harbor was created in 1631 by Cardinal Richelieu as a military base and arsenal.

Lorient is a town in the Bretagne region of western France. The town was almost entirely rebuilt after suffering heavy damage in World War II. One of Lorient's modern claims to fame is its famous inter-Celtic festival. The Bretagne region, though chilly, is very beautiful. Also known as Brittany, it was once the longtime focus of struggles between England and France.

World renowned for its liquid namesake, Bordeaux's vineyards begin at the town's doorstep. Drive through the countryside to admire the richness of this region laden with grapevines and dotted with picturesque chateaux. Head north up to Pauillac along the Haute-Medoc wine road where some of the finest clarets are cultivated.

World renowned for its liquid namesake, Bordeaux's vineyards begin at the town's doorstep. Drive through the countryside to admire the richness of this region laden with grapevines and dotted with picturesque chateaux. Head north up to Pauillac along the Haute-Medoc wine road where some of the finest clarets are cultivated.

Saint Jean de Luz is a charming little seaside town in the southwest of France, near Spain. With a history that dates from the medieval period, the architecture is varied and never boring. The town enjoys a robust fishing trade, so the seafood here is always out of this world. In the summer, like any resort, there are a bevy of art fairs, festivals, and fetes to explore.

The city of Bilbao, hemmed in by massive green hills on three sides and a river valley to the north, sprawls itself out across the remaining open spaces in an ungainly and awkward mess. Its 14th-century historic district and more modern commercial centre hug the banks of the Nervion River, while its working class suburbs, the rusting shipbuilding and steel factories, the fish canning plants and assorted relics of its more lucrative industrial past stretch out along the widening river and up into the rugged hills.

Southampton is the gateway to the immensely civilized city of London. There are museums to visit, pubs to try, and shops to browse, ranging from Harrods to open-air markets. There are more parks and green belts here than in any other city in the world. There are also caches of stately squares and noble monuments, holdovers from a time when the island ruled a significant portion of the globe.