Viviers

Today we visit Viviers, a quaint, small medieval town on the riverside hills. It’s only 3600 people.

We attended the stretching class on top of the boat at 7:00-7:30 am, then breakfast.

Arrived at Viviers around 8-8:30 am. The walking tour started at 9:00am. Here’s the tree shaded lane into the town center square.

It was market day and we walked through the market.

and through the narrow, windy, steep streets

up to the cathedral, with a nice overview of the city.

Donna and I walked down on our own with a stop at the pharmacy for throat lozenges. We saw a cat chase the mouse under the step. This cat reminded us of Timothy, Donna’s mom’s cat that we got when Donna’s mom went into the nursing home.

We came down the back way through fields and Merlin Bird ID heard quite a number of birds. Got a few poor photos. On board at 11:30am.

The boat left at 11:45am and sailed towards Lyon. It rained in the afternoon. Cooking demo of Tarte Tatin. One trick I didn’t know, to caramelize sugar, put some water in the pan, add sugar and let much of the water evaporate. Then add butter.

Then a 4 pm French lesson and tasting of fois gras, tapenade, fig jam tomato pesto and Provence Rosè wine.

It rained much of the afternoon. I saw swans on the river, especially just south of the nuclear power plant on the river during the cooking demo.

I am doing better at avoiding nutrisweet with the help of the kitchen.

The crew show was after dinner from 9:00-9:40 pm. Lots of goofy, campy things and some dancing.