Column

16-03-2023

EUROPE ON VIKING SKY

Dreaming of the world’s best gelato? Head to San Gimignano and Gelateria Dondoli – my pick was mandarin and hazelnut! What a wonderful small town to wander around, sweeping views of the rolling Tuscan countryside, towers rising to dizzying heights, built pre-Renaissance by the wealthiest families of the region. This village is once again alive and thriving.

I am writing while in Helsinki airport waiting for my flight returning home. Finnair has been a good airline to fly to Europe with, combining with Qantas over Singapore and connecting through Helsinki onto their vast network of shorter flights. We arrived a week ago to snow and ice, we hopped on the train to the centre of Helsinki and wandered around this welcoming city.
This past week, I have cruised from Barcelona along the Mediterranean coast to Rome. What a fabulous part of the world, and we struck surprisingly good weather for this time of the year. The only day I wore my coat was in Helsinki, while the rest of the time a light jacket was fine. It surprised me to see the spring flowers so early in the year. It’s quieter now than in the season, so the queues for entering museums aren’t so daunting.
We sailed on Viking Sky. The ship was at full capacity however there was always a sense of space and relaxed style. Her Scandinavian heritage is reflected throughout, with clean light lines, elegant décor, and saunas and plunge pools to invigorate! Each stateroom has a balcony which I loved opening for fresh air. The cabins were comfortable with a full sized shower and a sitting area. Each day we were in port , Viking ran a complementary tour and a constant shuttle bus into town. There are also optional excursions and the ones I paid for were excellent.
There were port talks and guest lecturers who provided insights into the region. There are several restaurants onboard that are all included; don’t miss the specialty options Manfredi’s Italian and Chef’s Table for degustation. Meals and wines reflect the area you are cruising through, and we joined an optional wine-tasting course which was fun and educational.
I loved that the first night the ship stayed in port at Barcelona – most cruises you board and you are straight out! From Spain we visited the French Mediterranean. From Sete I visited Montpellier, a vibrant town full of university students, cobbled ancient streets and cafes; close by we wandered the grounds of a delightful chateau with the owner as our guide; this was not a museum but a property handed down through the ages and still lived in today. From Marseilles, we headed inland to a small village perched on the hilltop of this wine growing region. Early one morning we dropped anchor in the deep waters off Villefranche-sur-Mer , surrounded by the glorious blue of the of Cote d’Azur, we tendered into Nice and drove the dramatic coastal road to Monte Carlo…
Our two days in Tuscany were fabulous. A lovely day exploring San Gimignano, with lunch in a local farmhouse. The other day, returning to Florence – one of my all-time favourite cities of the world. What a way to explore the world: no dragging suitcases around, just taking our time to thoroughly enjoy this wonderful part of the world, beautifully choregraphed by the team at Viking.
Contact Travelling Places
PH: 07 5545 1600 E: travel@travellingplaces.com.au