Solotravel

Goodbye to Avignon

I enjoyed wandering all round here and everywhere old this morning, mentally saying goodbye to Avignon. The smells of herbs, lavender, and croissants are distinctive in the narrow cobbled roads, lots of little shops with a market feel and of course many tourists. I have yet to understand the pleasure of walking and eating a plain bread roll. Yesterday the Palais des Papes with its beautiful frescoes, paintings and cold stone walls enormous rooms down to the smallest. Must have been cold back in the 13-14th century. In one of the biggest rooms, they actually had big heaters going full blast and it wasn’t hot, even with them going.

Finally getting to walk the famous Pont D’avignon bridge. Famously finishing halfway across the river. A pretty walk through narrow streets, past the inevitable tourist shops and patisseries. I was so lucky with the weather, although cool, it was a bright and sunny day. Many other visitors enjoying it with me. Yes, at school many years ago, even kiwi kids on the other side of the world sang the famous little song associated with this bridge.

Sitting in Macca’s eating the most delicious potato chunks and sauce. Overseas Mcdonalds always have food we never see at home. I’d love some more but at €2.50 a tad expensive. The staff here have been wonderful, happy to deliver a meal to the table, get the wifi, going all with a smile. A little boy just fell down a couple of steps and cried(he wasn’t hurt) but his sister screamed! Again the staff incredible.

I tried eating in one of the pavement cafes earlier, but a horrendous wind spoilt the whole experience, blowing the bright yellow and pink flowered tablecloths, despite the clips attaching the table. Move on to Barcelona tomorrow for 4 days followed by Madrid and the Spanish tour.

Will be sorry to leave here, overall it’s been interesting historically and building wise, and very friendly. I have had plenty of exercise, finding Avignon another easy city to walk and enjoy. All one needs is younger legs! I have discovered if the French are going or tell you how to get to anything, it is always, just 10 mins away 🙂

It’s been fun practicing a little French with the breakfast supervisor, a smiley lady with a great deal of patience! Usually, after I eaten too many of the tastiest, flakiest of croissants filled with butter and jam. I have now installed a Spanish translator on the iPad. The French one has been brilliant on the odd occasion and easy to get on the iPad offline. Now it’s back to the hotel on the train shuttle and the ‘10 min walk’ between the station and hotel.

Touring Provence

We set off to go touring around Provence. First, a stop at the Gordes village in the Vaucluse mountains. Said to be one of the most beautiful villages in, France. I could believe it, seeing the houses clinging to the mountainside was one of those WOW moments. Marc the guide dropped us as close to the center as possible and left us to wander the charming cobbled streets around the village and castle The occupants must be very fit, having to cope with cobblestones and steep streets! We stopped to get the wonderful photo on our way down from the 10th-century castle.

Then another interesting hour in the car on our way to see Les Baux de Provence. Passing through St Remy where Van Goh stayed in a Psychiatric hospital. St Remy is also famous in its own right, although time was against us today. Marc, the guide gave us lots of interesting facts and figures as we drove to the Les Baux castle. I’m sure I won’t remember any of them, but it did give context to what we were seeing and enjoying.

Again, Marc dropping us off as close as possible, we wandered up the slopes of the castle, more cobbled streets with stunning landscapes from various lookout points. Lots of small cute expensive shops, I bought a very tasty panini as I was starving having missed lunch. Sat and ate it in a warm nook out of the wind that had plagued us all day. Steeper, narrow roads, how people in the past handled all these in their day, speaks volumes of their character. Many tourists, I was fascinated by someone pushing an even larger person in a wheelchair up the cobbled streets, surely a labor of love!

Having had our fill of the castle we moved on to the Pont du Gard. This was an aqueduct that I had been looking forward to seeing. I find Roman architecture fascinating, and this was amazing, built over the years, in the middle of the first century AD to take water to Nimes. The actual distance is around 27kms, but the building goes over 50kms because of the twists and turns to allow the water to flow. The two Canadians and I climbed to the top and through the actual water tunnel. The aqueduct was a beautiful sight in the setting sun but made photos difficult to take. Walking across, I was struck by the views and the bluish color of the river below.

Marc was kind enough to drop me off at the hotel, it was powdered soup again as the day had left no time to shop for food!

Avignon Stay

An easy and pleasant train ride from Antwerp to Avignon. I love the European train system, it’s fast, comfortable and efficient. The views from the train included the limestone hills, the odd ruined castle, and what I can only assume was a previous monastery or similar.

The European stations are generally in the middle of the city, but the Avignon TGV station was actually 5 minutes by train shuttle away. Costing €6 for the week, as many times as you wish to use the service. I had chosen to get off here, for cheaper accommodation and a simplified train experience for coming and going.

I am booked in the Adagio Aparthotel, one with a kitchen which I hope will keep costs down. Just a short 5-10 mins walk away from the station. It seems that 10mins are the French standard times to go anywhere. At least I was able to have my cup a soup evening meal in the room. Pleased about not having to go downstairs to the boiling water machine. The joy of joys there is also breakfast included.

I was able to see a big Carrefour supermarket from my window, so enquired how to get there. Sadly finding out that supermarkets are closed on Sundays in France, very strange. I have been fascinated by the business habits of the Europeans, particularly the supermarkets with their empty shelves, strange checkouts, trolley system, and the lack of plastic bags! On arriving home I find that there are no plastic bags given out at the supermarkets.

Exhausted after yesterday’s activity was a late start, the included a continental breakfast was very nice, with the most delicious croissants. Completed by a charming lady who was happy to put up with my attempts at speaking and practicing the French language. Talking with the receptionist I ended up booking a tour with her assistance. She gave instructions as to how to meet the tour, and to look out for a black Mercedes.

Arriving at the town center as I was told, half an hour early I waited and keep a look out for the black Mercedes. 12.30 came and went, no tour black Mercedes. Nearly in tears, I walked back up the Main Street, when a black Mercedes pulled up across the road! Ah, the relief, so I walked as fast as the walking stick allowed me. Reaching the guy who had stopped to look at some shoes displayed outside.

I asked if he was the tour guide for Provence Reservations, no, he says but I used to work for them! He asked what time the tour was supposed to have been, and immediately rang them. Apparently, they were looking for me! He very kindly offered to take me to meet the guide, which he did. They had been waiting a quarter of an hour for me in a grey Mercedes!

My pleasure to meet a charming young Canadian couple from Quebec.

Inverness

Inverness turned out to be a very easy small town to get around by foot. The driver, dressed as an 18-century gentleman for the Happy Tours tour, was kind enough to pick me up from the hotel. Initially, I was unsure where the pickup place was to be found. After a very nice continental breakfast, it was off to see Lochness, of the Nessie fame! It turned out to be a pretty lake with the Urquhart Castle on its shores. The castle was closed for the day so we missed out seeing it up close.

Further on was Fort George, again from a distance. Apparently, dolphins can be seen in the waters nearby but not for us. Lovely to see the Culloden (Clava)Viaduct

on the way to see the 4-5, 000-year old Clava Cairns. As an Outlander fan, I found them interesting, seeing them just as the sun was setting, the rays through the trees almost eerie. Battle of Culloden territory was a bracing experience, with time spent on the moors. I felt the chilly winds making themselves felt through every layer of clothing. One could only imagine the horrors of such a battle over 200 years ago. While not a whiskey drinker I did enjoy stopping into a distillery and being offered a “Wee Dram”. Memories of stopping in Edinburgh in 2006 to do the same, it’s a wonder I have not become a connoisseur.

After the full and busy day visiting many places, it was back to the Inverness hotel. I had a very small room and spent time rearranging the furniture to get some comfort. I was glad to be leaving the next day, the two flights of stairs and a tiny room reminded me of the old-fashioned box room at the top of some scary stairs. Meals were taken care of with the variety of eating establishments in the close vicinity in the town. The big supermarket a joy to see and experience, I love the new and interesting English selection of foods.