Trains and Automobiles

So before I launch into today’s blog … I just wanted to thank everyone who’s taking an interest… It’s a fun thing to compile… but even more fun knowing that you guys are enjoying it!

Today, we had an early start to check out the apartment and catch the TGV to Avignon. All went smoothly, except that I had to go and buy the breakfast… because apparently I always by the food when we are on train trips. This was a little known fact to me. It was interesting watching the countryside change from the flat wheat field country around Paris to the undulating vineyards of the south.

Avignon itself was a complete change of pace from Paris … and a real chance to take breath. It was only 2.5 hours away… but seemed much further (gotta love a fast train). The two things we really wanted to do in Avignon … the first being the Palais de la Papes. There was a stage when the French had their own set of Popes for about 100 years … but following a restructure (which involved some wars and sieges) this activity was consolidated to the Vatican… nonetheless they built a Palace which is well worth a look.

 The other thing to see in Avignon is the bridge over the Rhone River which was originally completed in the 1184 but but the late 1300’s became too difficult to maintain. On the subject of difficult… it also proved difficult to find… as we walked in completely the wrong direction. A big clue was the guy walking along the road near us stopping at each bin looking for food.

 By the time we’d found the bridge… it was time to pick up our rental car. So another new experience … driving on the wrong side of the road. It wasn’t so bad… I only mounted the kerb once on the way out of the car park. After that it was all smooth driving until we go to Goult (the town near we are staying. It was then we realised that the real place doesn’t look quite the same as the Google street view. With some creative GPS work and the help from a local frenchman who spoke absolutely no english (it’s funny what you can understand when you need to) … we found the house. I have to say … kudos to Deb … the house overlooks a valley, another village and a castle that is lit at night. There’s heaps of space and none of the city ‘ambience’ of inner city Paris.

and the view …

Anyway … until tomorrow

Rob