Vienne & Lyon

March 25:  Vienne

 Randy and Karrie didn't do the optional tour as Karrie didn't feel well this afternoon.  We walked out to our bus and OH NO.......can you guess?  YES, our guide for this afternoon was THE SAME LADY!  I told Kim that perhaps she'd have more to say this afternoon.  One should always stay positive my mother taught me.  The best thing I can tell you about the afternoon's excursion was that we saw what we'd wanted to see, and they were truly amazing.  But I can tell you very little about them because we again got next to no narration.  At one point we walked a good five blocks through a city square and "Josie" paused (didn't stop mind you) and pointed to the right and said, "these buildings were built in the fourteenth century, notice the difference with these on the other side which were built in the fifteenth century."  Now you had to hope you DID SEE the difference because she did not point them out.  About fifteen minutes into our "city tour" of Vienne we stopped at these remarkable Roman ruins.

I can only tell you this is the Roman Forum because one of the gentlemen on the tour said, "these are the Roman Baths?" and Josie's reply was "No this is the forum, there (with a generic wave of her sign) is the baths."  I was glad he asked because I had snapped several photos of what I THOUGHT were the baths, but I am pretty sure I was wrong.

I took this close-up of the arch not only because of the detail, but as Kim and I discussed, how remarkable it was that as we passed through this arch and looked up we were seeing the same thing that many Romans had looked at centuries ago!

We left the ruins and walked through a side street and then the temple came into view.  We walked a good block and a half while in "the cone of silence" and then Josie stopped and pointed to the temple and said, "Here is an ancient Roman temple.  We will stop here for 15 minutes and then take the mini-train to the top of the hill.  You can get something to drink or take photos."  I can only tell you the name of this ruin was the Temple of Augustus and Livia because I'd done research previously!  No background, I have no idea what the temple was used for as we weren't told, or how it got it's name nor if this was the original name or not.  We took a selfie with the timer on my camera/phone from a bit of a distance to get a wider shot of the temple behind us and then  Kim and I asked one of the gentlemen along to take the second photo of us (see at the bottom of the photo).

The two main highlights I had been looking forward to for this optional tour was (a) the temple and then (b) the Roman theatre which is still in use today, seating over 15,000 spectators.  I had read that while looking at the theatre you had a great view of the city below.  So after about five minutes in the square Josie came over the speaker and said the train would be here in five minutes.  Wait a minute, you said fifteen minutes.  Two other couples had just taken her advice and ordered drinks at a café that overlooks the temple.  In less than five additional minutes she announced "the train is here, my group should now come with me to board the train!"  This just wasn't right for the people who had just been served.  We waited for them a few minutes and then the train departed through the streets of old Vienne.  Not sure what we saw as Josie was talking to the driver in the front cabin.  We got to the top and saw the cathedral and could see that there was a great panoramic view of the city from up here.  Then it was pointed out to us that if we looked over the two railings - and that was ALL THERE WAS BETWEEN US AND SHEER DROP - there was the Roman theatre!

Kim at the overlook

Mark on the overlook - cathedral on the hill over the shoulder

The view of the Roman theatre - STRAIGHT DOWN from the overlook!

I had told Kim I was hoping for a photo of us in front of the temple and with the theatre in the background, but (a) I was only brave enough to go right up to the railing twice, for VERY short periods of time to take a couple of photos and a video, and (b) there wasn't any way we'd have the theatre as a background for the photo with the straight drop down :)  We board the train for the silent ride back down the hill.  We stopped at a cathedral that we were led around in and there were just a couple of items pointed out, but no history.  One couple I'm sure was so fed up they simply left and headed back to the ship early.  We stuck it out.  Later when I add photos you'll have to revisit this page to see this - very interesting that the French government spent money - not sure, but however much they spent was too much in my opinion - to buy some pink paint.  This is then painted in droplets all around the city and on steps, etc. ..... as a reminder NOT to drop gum onto the ground :)

March 24 Highlight Video