Where We Have A Leisurely Morning Sailing On The Rhône To Viviers, Which Might As Well Have Been Around The Corner.
We had a leisurely morning cruising on the Rhône, which was very relaxing for a change – no rushing to eat breakfast and hopping on the bus. Bus hopping was for later in the afternoon.
One of the locks was now open, which allowed us to sail to Chateauneuf du Pape Orange. It didn’t take very long – maybe 90 minutes? It might as well have been around the corner. But we did get to go through the lock, which was fun.
The afternoon’s activity was a walking tour of Viviers. This walking tour was originally scheduled as an optional tour in the evening, but it was canceled when Viking learned there would be no street lighting. Now it was the included tour during the day. Susie, Janet, and I signed up for the “easy” version of the tour, and Andy signed up for the regular tour that would go to the top of the hill to the cathedral.
It was about an hour drive to Viviers, but the buses made a pit stop about half way there, because public bathrooms are hard to find (i.e. don’t exist) in Viviers.
When we arrived, we split into our respective groups. The “easy” group could see the cathedral from the road
We arrived in the town square lined in London Plane trees.
After a brief visit to a shop or rest on bench, we started our tour of the old city.
The tour guide told us the story of Noel Albert – standing in front of the house Noel renovated the front facade – the Maison des Chavaliers According to the little booklet Andy bought: “On the four floors it displays a combination of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, as well as busts of men and women in roundels”. That about sums it up. Noel Albert was arrested and executed in 1546 when he sided with the Protestants. Much later, after the fact and way too late, his titles were restored to his family.
In Andy’s version of the walk, he saw this statue to “Marianne” – the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution.
He also saw this fantastic old door.
We came to the home of one of the tour guides who graciously opened their home to the tour group. There were 2 full flights of stone steps (!) just to enter their home. It was beautiful! One of the challenges was heating and cooling – but since their home is one of the historic buildings, they can’t modify the roof with solar. Their options are limited.
The house Andy visited had a hidden tunnel where people in the French Resistance were hidden during WWII
Andy also visited St Vincent’s Cathedral.
We all met back at the bus for the 2 hour bus ride back to the ship.
Before dinner, Lisette presented the options for Thursday:
(1) 2 hour bus ride to the Steam Train (a 1 hour train ride), lunch at the mansion where we stopped the other day, and a 2 hour bus right to Avignon
(2) 2 hour bus ride to Tournon for a walking tour, then lunch at the mansion, followed by a 2 hour bus ride to Avignon
(3) Stay on the ship to sail back to Avignon with the opportunity for free time in Avignon to wander wherever we wanted and maybe go shopping.
Susie, Janet, and I opted for (3) – the idea of 4 hours on the bus and lunch at the mansion was unappealing. Andy went for option (1).
After dinner we played a hilarious game of “Majority Rules” – 10 questions and the “right” answer is decided by the number of teams having the same answer. We did not win, but tied for second with a bunch of other teams.
Tomorrow: Cruising and bussing along.
Maryland Meshugas 