This morning the walking tour of Tournon was beginning at 8.30, so TRO and I decided to skip it, just have a bit of a lie in, and miss the small town we had stopped at.
Instead we had a late breakfast. After cereal, we enjoyed cooked breakfast, and cheese and fruit.
I've taken to drinking two cups of tea over breakfast, and even drinking it black. This came about because at one of the places I had tea, they gave me no milk, so I didn't have a choice. I have discovered that I don't mind it black at all.
The breakfasts are wonderful, anything you can think of is available, including sparkling wine.
We set off cruising for Villiers, the next stop on our itinerary around mid morning. The tour of the wheelhouse was offered, so we headed up to the top deck to enjoy over an hour in the wheelhouse,
with Captain Phillippe giving us all the low down on the ship. It was extremely interesting, especially when the wheelhouse was lowered to enable us to pass under a bridge. Whilst we were there, we went through the first of 7 locks for the day.
The view from the wheelhouse, many passengers enjoying the beautiful weather at the front of the ship. In the foreground is the "whirlpool" or spa, as we would call it.
TRO was able to sit in the Captains chair. This is the second Captains chair he has taken to this year, I think he's getting used to it.
While we are going through the lock, captain Phillippe takes control of the ship from outside the wheelhouse.
Lunch again, then a quiet afternoon until it was time to have our visit to the Galley. This is really the most surprising place! It would not measure more than 10 meters by about 8 meters. It seems incredible that all those beautiful meals are produced in such a small place. There are always about 6 choices of main meal, 3 entrees, 2 soups and 3 or 4 desserts...and that is just for dinner!
This is one corner of the galley, where the head chef cooks to order.
After that tour, it was time for the afternoon tea and chocolate tasting....yum yum!
Even as I write this blog, it's hard to believe all the things we fit into just one day. It's as well that I do write it, because I would never remember things otherwise.
We docked at Villiers around 5 pm, and by 5.30 were off on our walking tour of the town, with a French guide whose name escapes me. Like all our guides, he was terrific. We seems to have hit the jackpots with our guides, we have heard a few reports of not so good ones.
We were promised a walk...read climb....to the Cathedral of this town, so TRO and I, feeling a little churched out, thought we might slip off by ourselves. But the commentary was so interesting, we found ourselves in the Cathedral anyway. It was just as well, because we were treated to a concert by the organist. He played several pieces, including the Pirates of the Carribbean theme, and for his encore played "Amazing Grace" encouraging everybody to sing it as well.
The Cathedral has been almost destroyed a couple of times, first in the Religious Wars, and secondly during and after the French Revolution. More recently, two of the magnificent tapestries had been stolen. One was found in Italy, and the other is still missing, believed to be in a private collection in Germany.
The bonus for walking to the top of the hill where the Cathedral is, was the view over the Rhone, and further afield.
We were a little late back to the ship (naughty guide kept us too long ) so there was no time to change for dinner, and the gentlemen were allowed to wear their shorts.
During dinner we went through the biggest lock on the river, dropping some 24 meters. I went up on the deck to take some photos, it was just a little scary:)
The top pic indicates where we started, and the second one where we finished up, once the water had drained out and we were ready to cruise on.
Dinner finished, it was time for bed, as we had another early start in the morning.
what an amazing lock.
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