There’s something about capturing what you see in pencil and watercolours, outside a cafe in the South of France, with a glass of wine and a lovely group of friends, that captures your holiday far better than hundreds of photos can do.
That’s according to fashion and travel journalist Wendy Rigg, who was invited to escape a dull, grey January in UK and sketch her way round Europe with a group of fellow artists on what she calls a “pinch-me perfect trip” all the way.
Wendy has worked for some of the UK’s biggest selling women’s magazines, starting her career on iconic teen magazine Jackie, then at Best, More!, Reveal, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
Her career as a magazine fashion director enabled her to travel extensively, taking her to Miami, Cape Town, Sydney, Paris, New York, Bali and Los Angeles on shoots. Here, Wendy describes her love of travel and art, and takes us on her latest trip with her.
I’VE GOT THE TRAVEL BUG
I’ve relaxed in an eco spa in Sicily, stayed in luxurious chateaux with Michelin star dining in the Dordogne, visited Washington, Virginia and Maryland in the States, wandered through ancient olive groves in Mallorca and got lost in the Medina in Tangier.
I have always wanted to go to India and, in 2023, I went with a group of friends and was wowed by the Taj Mahal and the Floating Palace Hotel in Udaipur, where I honestly thought I’d died and gone to heaven, it was so beautiful.
In recent years have been lucky enough to enjoy cruises to Norway for the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, an artists’ cruise of the Mediterranean, visiting Europe’s most celebrated galleries – all with Viking.
I LOVE ARTY PURSUITS
Now in my sixties, I live in Blackheath in London, in a penthouse flat with treetop views and a roof terrace, which I enjoy turning into a floral riot of colour in summer, along with my next door neighbour, Kirsten, who’s an amazing gardener.
I enjoy nothing more than visiting galleries and arty pursuits, and was encouraged to start sketching and painting by my friend, the artist and author, Fiona Gibson, whom I’ve known since Jackie magazine days.
Fiona and I went on a River Cruise on the Rhine with Viking and I was astonished and thrilled when the illustrations I did were used in Viking’s magazine. Following that, we were invited to join another Viking cruise – this time on their Viking Iconic Western Mediterranean route, sketching our way around Spain, France and Italy.
Our trip began with an overnight stay in a hotel near Gatwick airport, as we had an early flight next dayto Rome. Viking make travel so easy – we were sent red leather luggage tags before leaving home and, on arrival, representatives are there to meet us.
This turned out to be a feature of the holiday. We were so pampered and looked after that we all joked about becoming ‘deskilled’ at looking after ourselves on our return. I did’t think I was a ‘cruise type’ but I have since changed my mind, as everything about this holiday was luxurious. It’s such a stress-free way to see a lot of different destinations without having to unpack and pack again.
Onboard, the food is so exceptional that it’s worth piling on half a stone enjoying all that there is to offer. You have to book at Manfredi’s, the Italian restaurant, or to enjoy a tasting menu at Chef’s Table, while the World Cafe and the Pool Bar are self-service, with the former offering a variety of delicious and tempting dishes, and with choices reflecting the ports of call.
Wine sommeliers are on hand to advise on the best vintages to accompany your meal. Not to be missed is afternoon tea with a delicious array of cakes and sandwiches, served in the Winter Garden. You can work off the extra calories in the well-equipped gym. I brought fitness gear and trainers, but we were so active in the day that there was’t really time to pay the gym a visit.
I enjoyed the Nordic Spa onboard, where you can wallow in the warm pool, jacuzzi and sauna, and alternate with cold showers and an ice chamber, should you wish. Alternatively, just bask on heated sun loungers with a book – heaven.
PORTS OF CALL ON A VIKING MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE
FLORENCE: We landed in Rome and our first afternoon was spent exploring the ship, which was. First up on our itinerary was Florence in Italy. Viking provides guided tours and I find this is helpful, especially when visiting a city you’re not familiar with and want to get the most out of in a short time.
I felt like I was on the set of Room with a View, wandering the historic streets with headphones on and an entertaining guide filling us in on the history, ogling the famous Statue of David (yes, I bought a fluorescent pink souvenir David) and the spectacular Fountain of Neptune.
A visit to the world renowned Uffizi Gallery to see famous Renaissance paintings by artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Carravagio, and Titian was bucket list special. Standing in front of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus was an experience I’ll never forget – its ethereal brightness does not come across unless you’re actually there. Gallery ticket prices generally range from €25-€29 for a standard full-price ticket.
We had some free time, so after lunch, Fiona and I headed for the landmark Ponte Vecchio with its pretty shops and elegant arches, which was built across the River Arno in 1345. We couldn’t’t resist opening new sketchbooks and, for me anyway, nervously attempting to paint it. The sun was setting, and it was a beautiful time of day to be there so we had to speed it up.
I wondered what was happening – as suddenly the landmark appeared to turn into a swirling psychedelic sixties vision illuminated in rainbow colours. We hadn’t been slipped something funny in our lunchtime wine – we found out that the bridge was part of the festival Florence Lights Up, which runs annually from 7th December to 7th January, as part of a Christmas extravaganza. Definitely worth seeing!
VINCI: A coach trip through beautiful Tuscan countryside took us to the sleepy hillside town of Vinci, fragrant with thyme and orange trees, where Leonardo Da Vinci was born and there’s a museum dedicated to his lifetime’s work. On display are more than 60 models of inventions recreated from his drawings, including a wooden flying machine with flapping wings which he designed in the 1480s. Tickets are €14 per adult.
Afterwards, we sat outside and painted the glorious Tuscan landscape which is a mélange of rich colour. Neat olive groves, tall elegant Cyprus trees, oaks and maples adorn the rolling hills, which I’d seen exquisitely depicted in the backgrounds of the Renaissance masterpieces in Florence.
LUCCA: The charming walled town of Lucca, with its quaint shops and narrow cobbled streets was quiet in January, but apparently is heaving with tourists in summer. There is definitely something to be said for visiting places out of season, when they’re less crowded and the weather is cool.
I loved the chic accessories shops specialising in gloves or bags, all beautifully displayed. It was a treat to have a tasty artichoke risotto and a glass of red wine in a busy traditional Italian restaurant, packed with families and locals.
MONTE CARLO: We set sail for the South of France and Monte Carlo, for Monaco and Nice, however, the sea was too choppy to disembark on that day. It was a shame, but we enjoyed a lovely day of drawing and sketching on board, and took the chance to sample the afternoon tea in the Winter Garden.
MARSEILLE: It was an early start for our artists’ group, after arriving in Marseille at sunset the previous evening. By this stage in the cruise, I had upped my food intake, and breakfast in the World Café had become a multi-course affair before heading out. Greedy? Moi? Yes.
It was a short bus ride into town, to the harbour, where we stopped at a café for a citron pressé and a coffee and painted the scene with hundreds of yachts and Notre Dame De La Garde cathedral perched atop a hill in the distance. You can visit the cathedral via train to get the best view of the city, take a boat trip, or wander the streets of the Panier district with its abundant and riotously colourful street art and gift shops selling beautiful Marseille soap – the best present to take home.
We stopped at a rustic café for delicious tartiflette, the comforting dish from the Haute-Savoie region. It’s made from cream, potatoes and onions, topped with a layer of melted Reblochon cheese. We washed it down with a glass of organic wine, in Les Lumières, where the prix-fixe menus are available for €18–21 (coffee included) andla carte dishes range from €34–44.
SÈTE: Known as the Little Venice of Languedoc, because it’s surrounded by canals and the Mediterranean sea, this pretty, ‘boaty’ seaside town is known for markets, street art, beaches, festivals, and museums.
At 11.30 in the morning, after a short bus transfer into town, we headed for Les Halles, the bustling, covered market, which is packed with locals socialising and quaffing wine with oysters. The French certainly know how to live, even on a Tuesday!
Get there early and feast your eyes on stalls selling glistening Atlantic wolffish laid on beds of iced mussels, shrimps, clams, sardines, anchovies and stacks of vegetables, charcuterie and cheese. It’s a gastronomic delight, not to be missed, although we didn’t sample it as we were full from breakfast! We settled in a busy café with coffees, overlooking the canal and painted colourful boats.
There are different markets on each day of the week – so check what’s on when you are there.
BARCELONA: our last stop – an art lover’s dream come true. After a wander through the Gothic Quarter, our guide took us on an hour long guided tour round the Picasso Museum. With a vast collection of the artist’s life’s work, it’s truly awe-inspiring to see. Souvenir postcards were bought, of course!
We took a break for a lunch of pintxos at Euskal Etxea, in Placeta de Montcada. These are delicious, moresish tapas. When you’ve had your fill of the delicious dainty delicacies, on slices of crusty baguette, the wooden cocktail sticks which hold them together are counted up and you get your bill (€8 to €26 each). Seven was the average per person in our party!
Naturally, we washed them down with a glass of wine or two. After lunch, we had a little free time to shop or draw, before our coach took us to the magnificent Miro Foundation, along the Passeig de Gràcia, a grand avenue which showcases some of the city’s most celebrated buildings, including the famed architect Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, which is just stunning.
The Joan Miró Foundation did not disappoint. The collection of paintings and sculptures by this famed Catalan artist is housed in a state-of-the-art modern gallery that includes outdoor areas, where sculptures are set against spectacular views of the city. It was a perfect finale for an exceptional sojourn.
Over the eight-day holiday, I sampled delicious cuisine, learnt so much about the history of the beautiful destinations and indulged my creative passion, with a fantastic group of people, who are now firm friends. In fact, we’ve had two reunions since.
It was a wonderful experience to see so many places and to be pampered and looked after every step of the way, by the super-friendly, efficient Viking staff, especially Budi, from the housekeeping team who was responsible for looking after my state room. It was a trip of a lifetime, full of happy memories to treasure.
Here’s all you need to know:
The Viking Iconic Western Mediterranean itinerary includes stops in: Rome, Livorno, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Sète and Barcelona.
Length of itinerary: 8 days/7 nights, with five guided tours included.
Includes: return flights from the UK, accommodation in a stateroom with a veranda, in-destination transfers, all on-board meals including wine, beer and soft drinks with meals, excursions in each port of call, Wi-Fi, gratuities, access to the Nordic Spa, evening entertainment and enrichment talks.
Prices start from £4,490 per person for a March sailing. If you travel out of season, it’s cheaper, (if you travel in December, the cost is £2,595).
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