Viviers, a really nice place to raise your kids up! Another labyrinth. Many of the homes are not occupied as it’s not so convenient to live like this in our modern era. You’ll get lots of exercise walking from your parking space with the groceries, and it’s not simple to renovate these old buildings. We are told there are generous tax breaks for those who take it on.

Cheese tasting on board! Yes, it was very yummy.

Steve from Lenee Winery has a birthday on our ship. Somehow they brought their wine which they’ve been sharing during the voyage.

Yes, in the lost and found, a Tasty Bite. Who leaves something like this lying about on a river cruise boat?

Here’s some more photos for you. Around here they play the game of “confuse the tourist” by closing in the afternoon and closing for holidays.

On the other hand, people so far have been very kind with our lack of much palaver in French. Gotta like that.

The menu read “minced meat over frites” to which I wondered “what the heck is that?”

Turns out it’s a hamburger with gravy over French fries and white asparagus.

It’s also quite tasty! Definitely the addition of the asparagus really is a fine way to do it.

A day in Tournon-sur-Rhône. We went on a walking tour to the vineyards of Tain L’Hermitage.

They often trim the vines close to the ground where it’s warmer.

In other areas they train the vines up individual posts instead of a trellis.

As you can see, the hill is quite steep.

Very rocky soil.

…and a stop at the chocolate factory! Valrhona, it’s called. Which we unknowingly will use later in our journey in Paris to make chocolate lava cakes in our cooking class.

This morning we enjoyed a bike tour through part of Lyon. They have a lovely version of Portland’s waterfront park.

Here we enter Parc de la Tête d’Or. Such a pretty place!

Here we are in one of the nifty greenhouses full of fragrant and interesting plants from around the world.

In addition to the botanical gardens and the rose gardens this place also has a zoo! If you look close in the background you’ll also see a zebra.

Giraffes! I didn’t think I’d care much for the park, but it’s definitely a class act and well worth a visit.

Art Museum

Here in Lyon along the river there’s quite a few river barges that people live on. I took a photo of this one because of the painting on the bow which we think is titled “Love Nest”

What’s made of rocks and is on top of a hill?

Why, it’s the set for the last episode of Game of Thrones! Either that or a rollicking game of Dungeons and Dragons and Tourists.

The modern world bypassed this small walled town when the roads and railways were built in the valleys. It was slowly being abandoned when the mayor put together a revitalization plan and saved the place. They say about a hundred people still live there. It’s a view back to the 1400’s and definitely a pretty place to visit.

Roman Theater

Ah, the challenges of blogging on the road without the big boy computer.

We’re off to France! First a river tour from Lyon to Arles on the Rhône river on the Emerald Waterways Liberte with Lenné Winery. Then a week in Paris!