“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.” ~ Bessie Anderson Stanley

Today after breakfast our ship sailed a short distance to Vienne. Vienne has excellent Roman ruins, cobbled lanes, a historic abbey, a castle, and some of the best food experiences in France. Our view from our balcony is street level and we saw some interesting people while we waited for our tour.

We decided not to take the bike or hiking tours and joined the gente walker’s group, which was a train ride to the top of Mount Pipet.

Vienne is a town in southeastern France located 35km south of Lyon. After being taken by the Roman Empire the town became a Roman provincial capital and remains of Roman constructions are widespread across modern Vienne. It was an incredible view though a bit overcast, of a Roman Amphitheater, a castle and ruins, and a church.

Although the train ride was longer than the time we spent at Mount Pipet, it was still another wonderful day despite the rain and the chill.

We returned safely and had lunch enjoying food and wine but mostly conversation with friends old and new.

Sometimes life feels like lyrics from the song “Moon River” by Henry Mancini

“Moon river wider than a mile

I’m crossing you in style someday

Oh dream maker

You heartbreaker

Wherever you’re going I’m going your way

Two drifters off to see the world

There’s such a lot of world to see

We’re after the game rainbows end

Waiting ’round the bend

My huckleberry friend

Moon River and me”

This afternoon we just sat on the tiny deck and watched the beauty of the world go by.

Today was filled with especially wonderful conversations with Cindra, Maureen, Ed, Karen, Roger, Diana, Tom, Barbara, Lynn and Maria and I am sure a host of others whose names I can not remember.

“In the best conversations, you don’t even remember what you talked about, only how it felt. It felt like we were in some place your body can’t visit, some place with no ceiling and no walls and no floor and no instruments”
~John Green in Turtles All The Way Down

And my final thought for the day:

 “One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim.” ~George Carlin