Maple Leaf

We did a private tour with Westcapades, April 21 2024. Thanks to all your recommendations, it was a great tour from pick up from the ship, some of St.Malo, small towns along the coast to Mont St Michel. Tour guide and owner of the company, Marc, did a great job telling us about we were seeing. He looked after my friend who used a walker while 2 of us climbed up to the top of the abbey. Marc arranged a wonderful fresh seafood lunch on the way to Dinan, another beautiful historic town we visited. Big comfortable Mercedes van made the driving easy and we had a great day. I also recommend Westcapades.

I was there in Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, rented a house near Omaha Beach for a week, close enough to walk to the ceremonies. It would have been nearly impossible for cruise ship tours to get anywhere, we had government issued passes allowing us to be inside the security perimeter and it took hours to get anywhere on the one coastal road. There were celebrations and crowds in every town. A few days either side of June 6th would have been easier. Of course now, sadly, there will be fewer veterans there. Loved talking to all of them.

It also depends on which countries you visit. Obviously not on a cruise but for several safaris in Zimbabwe last month, we had to get a second yellow fever shot after first over 40 years ago. Zimbabwe requires a shot within the last ten years if you travel there through a country which has yellow fever. Since we flew via Ethiopia with a stop over there, we had to have a second shot. I’m 70 and my brother 73 and we had no adverse affects at all, didn’t feel anything after the shot. Zimbabwe is one of only a few countries that requires this. Best to check. The safaris were great! Looking forward to TA on Sirena March 2024.