18th October, 2019 Lyon and the beautiful City then tomorrow Beaujolais Wine Country

We have enjoyed the morning and the view of the town centre with a slow walk through the City and into the old town. We do intend to take in the many different restaurants and enjoy the interesting history of the city and its eating houses.

We spend some 3-4 hours walking up and down the various main streets around the rivers..We visit the shopping and clothing stores, but we are particular in remaining around the central areas. It is a stunning City in some respects like Bordeaux, but has a larger adminstrative base.

We enjoy the visit to the Cathedral and its spectacular views back over the city.

The weather is threatening. We then drive back to the river areas then across into the central administrative area. The city has an excellent public tramsport system of underground Metro and a wide tram network.

19th October, 2019 - Viking Buri arrives in Lyon and we undertake excursion of Panoramic Lyon and Beaujolais Wine country

We travel early morning and arrive in Lyon after breakfast. So perhaps a brief historical perspective of Lyon is an important starting point.

Lyon’s location is where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet and it has been appreciated at least since Roman times. In 43 BC one of Julius Ceasar’s lieutenants seeing the 2 river vantage point in that today’s Fourviere Hill commands, founded the Port of Lugdunum (Lyon). The City soon gre to become the starting point of the roman road systems, assuring that all roads would lead there. As a result, Lyon became the capital of Gaul and has become a hub of trade and cultural exchange ever since.

Many artists and artisans passed through Lyon on their way too and from Italy, with their influence plain to see through the many inspirational buildings. It is a stunning city with a huge reputation for gastronomic fare.

There are restaurants and eateries where ever you go in Lyon.

Following breakfast we were called for our excursion to travel to the beautiful wine are known as Beaujolais for its spectacular white wines.

We enjoy the travel through interesting country-side eventually coming to the small township, where we visit a small patisserie. Then we return to the bus and travel to a local winery where we undertake a tasting with cheese and 4 varieties of wine.

It is a beautiful old building.

The wines are pleasant but pricey.

We enjoy our time, the beautiful rolling countryside, the tasty, fruity wines. The history.

Back to the ship for a late lunch, then a rest before we head out and undertake a walking tour of this beautiful city.

We return fro dinner at 7.15pm, a special dinner with the senior members of the ship all present.

15th October, 2019 Visit to Avignon and walk and then tour of Pope's Palace and afternoon visit to Pont du Gard.

We returned to Avignon with a sense of excitement as to the forthcoming exclusive guided tour of the spectacular Pope’s Palace.

Following Breakfsat we departed the Viking Buri and we were split into small groups and boarded buses and were taken the short distance to the entrance of the walled city of Avignon. Jeanette and Ken found our earlier visit and couple of days in Avignon prior to the start of the River cruise to be of considerable benefit, because we had walked the town, visited the square and are surrounding the Pope’s Palace.

But let me start by providing a short history of the area.

Avignon is a beautiful and charming city in South eastern France. It is perhaps best known as the home to one of the most important buildings in Europe, the Gothic Palace of the Popes, home to 7 Popes during the 14th Century.

In 1995 Avignon’s historic Centre comprising the Palace of the Popes, The Pont d’Avignon and Episcopal Emsemble was names a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.. In 2000 Avignon was named as one 2000’s European Capitals of Culture.. We enjoyed the opportunity to to explore this Provincial Jewel, where beautiful elegant town houses sit alongside artisons’ quarters and rocks rise to parkland affording fine views over the world’s most famous 1/5th of a bridge, the Rhone Rivers turbulence swept away most of the Pont d’ Avignon centuries ago..

We enjoyed eating and enjoying coffee at Grand Cafe; L’Opera Cafe and L’Epicure a cozy French restaurant close to St Pierre Church.

We visited several Museums being the Musee du Petit Palais, Place de l’Hortloge ( the city square) , Le Musee Calvert

We should comment that The Avignon Cathedral which predates the arrival of Catholicism Papacy by more then 200 years , was dwarfed by its neighbour The Palace of the Popes. But in 1854 , centuries following the return of the after the papacy to Rome, the Vatican called for a gilded statue of Mary to be placed atop the cathedral. It is no accident that she stands taller than the Palace, as if to right a 14th century indiscretion. Our visit here is one of the highlights of our holiday.

We returned to the ship tired but overjoyed, then following a superb buffet lunch including pasta and salad, we had an afternoon optional paid excursion to the famed Pont du Gard, the amazing 3 tier Roman Aquaduct. This is an outstanding engineering achievement. I am delighted to provide some brief details gained from our guide and from the wonderful museum.

In ancient times the Pont du Gard was designed to carry water across the small Gordon river valley to allow the Aquaduct of Nimes which is almost 50km long to cross the Gard River. It acted as a major water supply for the people of Nimes and was a very important aspect of day to day life, due to their constant reliance upon it for water.

The Aquaduct was utilised for water transportation for nearly 300 years before its maintenance was neglected.

The Pont du Gard symbolised Roman ingenuity and posed as a representation of the architectural culture of the Romans. The Arch was the building technique that was used in many Roman structure, including the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. “in designing this 3 story bridge, which measures 360 (metres) at its longest point…… the Roman Architects and hydraulic engineers created a technical masterpiece that stands today as a work of art, and the highest Aquaduct bridge known from the Roman Empire.. In these ways the Romans proved their architectural expertise.

Furthermore, the Aquaduct serves as a large tourist destination today in France.. In one year the Aquaduct attracts 1.2 million visitors.and is the second most visited provincial monument after Mont Saint Michel, an island commune in Normandy, France. The Pont du Gard and many Roman arched structures have also influenced the construction of many modern structures such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri and various bridges across the world.

All in all the Pont du Gard Aquaduct has been an important construction to both ancient civilisations as a key water supply and people of modern times as a tourist destination and inspiration for architectural structures.

It is indeed a wonderful structure inspiring to the generations. We had a wonderful time.

14th October 2019 Visit to Arles, France- the Capital of Roman Gaul.

Arles is a fascinating window into the Roman incursion into Gaul. In the last days of the Roman Empire, the city of Arles was the capital of Roman Gaul. Indeed, it was known as “the Little Rome of Gaul” and boasts many Gallo-Roman ruins including Les Arenes. This ancient Roman Amphitheatre seats 20,000 and is still used today for bullfights and plays. The town has a bubbly energetic feel, attracting many farmers from the countryside to the frequent and famous Provencal Markets..

It also enjoys a rich artistic heritage; the Mediterranean sunlight and light inspired legendary impressionist Vincent van Gogh to paint a number of works. Many of his works immortalise the key sights of Arles.

Here in this World Heritage site we have wonderful beautifully preserved Roman sites and numerous Romanesque monuments.. A roman necropolis rests outside the Old Town city walls.

Historically Arles from the 11th and 12th centuries became one of the most attractive cities around the Mediterranean. within the City Walls, Saint Trophime, with its cloister, is one of Provence’s major Romanesque monuments. In the 9th Century, Arles became the capital of the Kingdom of Arles, which also encompassed Burgundy and parts of Provence. Its economic power variously rose and fell over time, and the kingdom was eventually absorbed into France.

Its economy remained strong until the advent of the railways in the 19th Century, which stripped it of its riverside clout.

Today its economy rests heavily upon tourism but there are strong chemical, metal and paper manufacturing industries.

We have enjoyed a wonderful excursion and walk-in Arles.

This afternoon we visited the Roman Aquaduct named Pont de Gard which is a truly spectacular construction from about 20AD.

Itnwas part of the significantly broader irrigation scheme to enable the transfer of massive water resources to Nimes. The Nimes Aquaduct was built to carry a staggering 200,000 cubic metres from the springs of Fountaine d’Eure to castellum divisorum, an open circular basin of 5.5 metres and a depth of 1 metre.. From the basin it was distributed to fountains, ponds, baths and private homes in the city of Nimes. It took 27 hours from the time of commencing to flow until reaching Nimes.

Its construction is credited to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, son of the famed Augustus. It fell at a small gradient of 57 feet over its entire distance of 50 kilometres. An average of34 cm per kilometre. That is 1 in 3000 and demonstrated the building excellence of the Roman engineers.

Rhe Pont de Gard is the highest of all Roman bridges. It was constructed without the use of mortars.

The remaining spams are in excellent condition and now recognised as a World Heritage site.

17th October 2019 - Tournon Steam Train excursion and Buri departs Tournon sur Rhone for Vienne

We arrive in Vienne one of the oldest cities in France. It is a strikingly handsome town founded under Romans and the administration of Pontius Pilate. Once the capital of the Celtic tribe known as Allobroges, Vienne was conquered by the Romans on 121 BC and became part of the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th Centuryand was transferred to French sovereignty in 1450.

With its position along the Rhone river, the town prospered as Rome’s major wine port, and progressed to become an important centre of religion and culture. Many of the beautiful roman monuments have survived to attest to the past glory, indeed , Vienne contains one of the richest repositories of roman and medieval buildings in all of France.

Among this historic city’s numerous charms is the effortless coexistence of its many ancient and modern buildings.

Only a few feet from the Gallo- Roman Garden of Cybele stands a medieval half timbered house; in the Museum of Saint Pierre, Roman statues can be found beside tombstones of medieval saints among the ruins of Gothic and Corinthian columns scattered in the yard. Arriving at the remarkably intact Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia standing among the contemporary cafe and shops in the town;s old square was an unforgettable memory.

Ruins of the old Roman circus, thermal baths and luxuriously decorated houses also remain. But the centrepiece of Vienne is the 13,000 seat Roman Theatre con the slopes of Mt Pipet, said to have been buried from the 4th Century until its discovery in 1922.

During its first centuries Vienne embraced Christianity, its first bishop is said to have been a disciple of Paul. It was later the target of multiple invasions during Europe’s Great Migration period. Over 300 years Burgundians, Romans, Franks, Lombards and Moors sacked the city and called it their own. After being proclaimed the capital of Burgundy, then falling within the Kingdom of Provence and later reverting to the roman Empire, the steadfast Archbishops surrendered their territory to France in 1449. Christianity ‘s legacy remains in Vienne’s five monasteries and many churches, chapels and convents.

The name of its neighbouring wine-producing region, Tain-l’Hermitage, comes from the hermit who planted vines here after returning from the crusades and invited travellers to drink wine with him. Today these vines produce a port like wine and some stellar white wines.

We walked from the Buri for about an hour along the river and through the town of Tournon sur Rhone. A delightful walk. After breakfast we had a short time before we were directed to busses for the drive to our Steam train journey through the Doux Gorges. We have a shore excursion on the Tournon Steam Train.

The ship departs at 9.15 am and leaves Tournon Sur Rhone for Vienne.

After about 40 minutes drive we arrive at Gare de Tournon St Jean railway station, where several carriages on the train are booked for parties from viking Buri. The line runs 33km through the Doux Valley and embraces wonderful bridges such as The Grand Pont, The Viaduc De Troye which stretches 100 metres, We cover the Barrage De Clauzel, then on to the Pont Des Etroits which marks the narrowest part of the Doux gorges. Boucieu Le Roi now labelled as a village, and was home to the royal court of justice in the Middle Ages. Then across the Pont Du Roi before passing the Chateau De Chazotte. The train turns around at Gare de Colombier Le Vieux St Barthelemy Le Plain.

The Engines / locomotives are 2 Malletts 403 and 414 which were articulated to better negotriate the tight bends in the Doux gorges and were specially created for the Vivarais network

We also saw and talked about the German Canal which was constructed by German prisoners between 1916 and 1919 and it supplies the hydroelectic plant in Mordane.

Following our train ride we return to Vienne and re-board the ship for lunch and then late afternoon we have an interesting tour of Vienne.

We walk into the city enjoy an excellent guide who is engaged and emotional in telling the history of the town.

The weather is changing and becoming quite threatening but we are only 400po metres from the Ship although we have a busy main road to cross.

We return to the ship at 5.30pm after an excellent hour and 20 minutes touring this beautiful city.

It has been a terrific day, with three activities all different but very enjoyable.

13th October Paris to Avignon and Boarding Viking Buri in Avignon

We arrived in Avignon yesterday, checked in and walked the beautiful city. We had been a little nervous departing Paris by TGB and how we would manage the luggage and then get to our beautiful old Hotel in Avignon.

We needn’t have worried as our Blacklane chauffeur driver was able to drop us off at the entrance to a lift to the Station. Check-in and access the platform was easy and via lifts. The train itself was not initially very full in first class and we found plenty of space to store our luggage, but the only issue was getting the 2 heavy cases upstairs as we were on the top level of the double-decker TGV carriage strategically placed near the rear of the train.

Fortunately, there was a fit young Doctor travelling to Marseilles sitting opposite, but he saw us enter the carriage and agreed to assist in carrying our cases individually. We were most grateful, thanked him and he offered to help us at Avignon TGV Station. We could have caught the local train. The TGV is the French Railways high speed intercity and comfortably moves large numbers of people at high speed (something between 250-300 km/ hour) . We have ridden several of these trains over the years. To Marseilles to Paris it is about 4 hours 20 minutes and first class in comfortable.

Upon departing the train we were faced with how to exit the elevated platform. But there were ramps and also elevators, we walked out onto a promenade and there were buses and taxis awaiting down another short ramp.

Our driver knew the hotel, didn’t speak any English but our drive into the city took less than 15 minutes, we were dropped off outside the former Monastery.. We had driven through one of the major gates in this ancient walled city. The weather was overcast, but quite pleasant.

Sunday comes with a near perfect morning and later we join our Viking Buri for our River cruise . As a starting point we decide to walk to the Pope’s Palace tourist area, where we have breakfast sitting in an open restaurant with sensational views. We walk through the area, appreciating that we were undertaking a guided internal guided tour of the Pop’s Palace area tomorrow upon the return of Buri to Avignon having been to Arles. So following breakfast we walk through the city of Avignon, taking in the beautiful architecture on a perfect morning.

We enjoy this walk and then prepare to pack our cases for the transfer the 6 minutes to the cruise port along the River. There are 3 other River cruising boats, but we pull up in front of the Viking Buri, are greeted by 3 staff all dressed beautifully in white shirts and trousers, dark ties and blazers. Our luggage is taken and we are welcomed aboard with cool towels and iced drinks. We are taken o our cabin #215 and are immediately pleased by the whole cabin, fit out with plenty of storage. It has been an enjoyable start to our river Cruise on Viking Buri.

20th October 2019 Departure from Viking Buri and TGB Lyon to Paris then to La Villa Haussmann

We enjoyed breakfast having said goodbye last evening to several groups with whom we had become friendly.

The Viking Buri Cruise has been a wonderful experience p, excellent food, terrific cabin and facilities.

Impirtantly we found many of the passengers to be friendly and very good companions.

So following breakfast we have a time to pack, then get our cases out by 9.00am then a 3 hour wait to be picked and taken to Gare Par Diem, Lyons TGV Station.

We went up to the lounge and sat and talked to others who had a similar delayed departure.

We exited the ship as new cruisers arrived for the return trip over the next week from Lyon to Avignon. But before Ken talks as to wine and Michael Bright our Tour Director suggested that it is well worth paying for the excellent year of 2015 from St Emilion and Bordeaux.

We arrived at the Station at 1.05pm leaving an hour to departure but with little seating and hoards of people we stood awaiting advices as to the platform. This comes 15 minutes prior to arrival of the TGV from Marseilles to Lyon which then goes on to Paris.

The platform is shambolic with hundreds of people awaiting and on arrival all pushing to get on. We are in Car 1 near the middle first class seats 25 and 26. We get on but people are everywhere, notwithstanding the first or second class tickets. We are downstairs on this trip, we struggle with our luggage, eventually putting it on the floor at end of the carriage beside the luggage storage.

we go to our seats one is taken but he is hoping they are not sold and eventually gives up the seat. Obviously the train is oversold, with people sitting on steps between upper and lower areas.

The trip is fine, but the weather is showery, with regular heavy showers of rain.

The 2 hour trip passes quickly and we arrive in Paris at Gare de Lyon at 4.15pm. Our walk to the exit of Platform G is slow with so many people ( literally hundreds) all wanting to hurry.

We receive a text message from our Blacklane driver that he will meet us beside the front of Platform G in 5 minutes. We find hm easily with the illuminated siping with Ken’s name. Parking is a nightmare, but he is parked almost by the exit. He guides us to the Mercedes, escorts us into the car, then loads our luggage.

Our drive along the Seine River takes passed several iconic monuments including the Notre Dam cathedral with its burnt scars and heavy presence of scaffolding.

Wenturn and drive through Place Del a Concord then into the beautiful 8th arrondisement and finally to La Villa Haussmann where we are greeted upon our return.

Checkin is smooth, we are given our keys to beautiful 307 with a separate walk in shower. We un pack, then decide snacks will do for dinner. Bed time comes early at 9.10pm and we sleep through until 7.35am next morning..

An exciting day of travel nearing the end of a wonderful holiday

20th October 2019 Departure from Viking Buri and train to Paris from Lyon

We depart Viking Buri at 12.15 pm after spending the morning say goodbye to new friends. It has been a memorable river cruise.

Many people have departed at far earlier times due to the need to make connections with US Flights from Paris and other European cities.

Our taxi arrives at 12.10 pm, we have a 25 minute taxi trip to the Lyon TGV station, which upon arrival looks like a major construction site and unbeknown to us there is little or any seating, together with hundreds of people swirling around awaiting announcement of the scheduled train departures.

There is no early announcements as to platform details until approximately 15 minutes prior to actual departure time.

We access the platform via a lift, thinking that this will give us easy access to our first class carriage in the middle of the train. That was a miscalculation , because as the TGV Inoui arrives there is a concerted push by people arriving on the platform. This is a 16 carriage train, there are hundreds arriving to travel.

The train arrives and as we attempt to enter our carriage it is a pushing and shoving issue. We find our seats ( Seats 25 and 26) with ease but the storage of our luggage is another issue. We eventually find room to store our 2 large cases and one small case in the far end of the seats , but away from the doors and exit. That created further challenges upon our arrival in Paris.

The weather has changed dramatically with a cold storm system moving through Lyon and heading North, so we have a train journey with a packed train with heavy rainfall and an electrical storm.

We have enjoyed our visit to Lyon, smile at its gastronomic reputation that we can endorse.

Our arrival in Paris after a comfortable trip, is relatively easy. We receive a text from our Blacklane driver advising us to meet him in 15 minutes outside the entrance to the Platform. He arrives exactly on time and has somehow managed to park his car (Mercedes E 64) just outside an entrance. We have used the station Gare de Lyon in Paris on several prior visits, but you still are amazed at the moving mass of humanity from and to platforms as 16 carriage trains arrive and depart, lodging massive numbers of people all scurrying to depart the station.

The driver advises there are issues departing Gare De Lyon and then skirts around the neighbourhood beside the river Seine, it is an enjoyable tour through some of the Paris suburbs and pass by major icons.

Our arrival at Villa Haussman is punctual and we have a prompt checkin, a room on a higher floor with a separate shower and wonderful view back over Haussman Boulevarde and its wonderful architecture. We are too tired to eat out and 15 minutes following our arrival we experience a noisy thunder storm and heavy rainfall.

Later Ken walks to find some snacks and soft drink. We are looking forward to again seeing some of Paris tomorrow.

21st October 2019 - A wonderful day in Paris.

We woke to a dull and gloomy morning after heavy rain throughout the night.

Jeanette and Ken slept very well awaking at 7.35am.

Ken purchased breakfast of crossaints and orange juice from the patisserie, which we really enjoyed.

We departed the hotel at 9.35am to walk to the Place de la Concorde as the starting point of our walking for the day.

This was a walk of approximately 25 minutes down Haussmann Boulevard to the St Augustines busy square then a right turn past the beautiful shops toward the River Seine. The weather is dry following a very wet and cold night, but it is cold at 12 degrees C and still windy. This is an easy and enjoyable walk through the beautiful residential and up market shopping area of the 8 th arrondisement or prefecture.

We cross the zebra crossing with traffic going in all directions, take photos of the fountains, the obelisk , then decide to walk through the Tulleries Gardens toward the Louvre, stopping regularly to take photos.

We have now walked from Place de la Concord through the gates into the stunning Tulleries Gardens taken a variety of photos of the art on display and are walking slowly toward the Louvre galleries, taking in the aromas of the gardens and appreciating the history. Simply amazing.

The weather is beginning to improve but the threat of late morning early afternoon rain has diminished.

We progress with many people and families swirling around us in excitement and laughter, it is wonderful and it is breathtaking.

We have thoroughly enjoyed this walk through history and we have now reached the forecourt to the Louvre museum.

There are people everywhere, all excited and gushing but the queues are lengthy.

We have previously visited the Louvre on several occasions, so today we are just visiting the forecourt, taking photos and enjoying ourselves.

But as much as we have enjoyed this time, our time is passing very quickly and there is so much to see and do. We are very familiar with the Metro underground rail system, but are also conscious of the lengthy walking involved within the stations as to entry, departure and with mandatory line changes, this is a challenging alternative.

Instead we decide to do the Cityseeker hop on hop off bus with us picking it up near the Louvre forecourt area.
It’s not the cheapest alternative, but time wise it will expedite our timelines to visit most of the attractions and monuments . We purchase one day passes for the red and blue lines, but not for the Bateaux cruise on the River Seine.

The scaffolding around much of Notre Dame conceals the terrible damage caused by the massive fire.

The. Rebuilding programme is scheduled for 5-6 years and is a mammoth undertaking in engineering and rebuilding.

We moved on still with a feeling of sadness.

We have enjoyed a terrific day and we returned to La Villa Haussmann at 4.15 pm and Ken then had a sleep, then checked in via Air France and KLM for our flight tomorrow to Singapore and then to Denpasar via Garuda and home to Melbourne.

Dinner tonight was a celebration of our holiday at a bistro nearby.

Our meal was superb, the Bordeauux Cab Sav just exquisite and a great finale to a wonderful trip.

Tomorrow morning we will pack and checkout with Blacklane picking us up at 3.00 pm to then drive to CDG for our flights.

We are very blessed a marvellous holiday. Everything worked well.