Travel another way

Today is day 2 of our Escapade to Provence. On day 1, not much happened, since the group had just arrived.

I told everyone that we would leave by 9:15 on Sunday morning to go to the market for some shopping but Eppie thought that 3 hours shopping would not be enough! She would have left at 6am if that had been an option! So we left by 9am with everyone else ’s ok.

The market in Isle sur la Sorgue is the biggest Provencal market in Provence. In addition to the regular food market, on Sundays, they also have an antique market. That is enough to keep you busy for a day but half a day was a perfect timing for everyone.

We then went for lunch to Avignon and then took a walking tour to the best  view point in the palace of the Popes’ gardens, so that everybody could see the famous Pont d’ Avignon. Afterwards we visited the 13th century Palace of the Popes, where we were told all about the history of the 9 popes who lived in Avignon instead of Italy.

Today was  a special day in France and also in Avignon (beside the fact that we were there!!!).  Once a year, the government organize the “journees du patrimoine”, meaning days celebrating national heritage buildings and monuments. Most of the museums are free and some place which are closed to the public all year long, are open on those days. Therefore, they were a big crowd in the papal city of Avignon, but it was not too crazy and everyone enjoyed that beautiful day, especially because  on top of it all, the sun was shining and the temperature just right.

Tomorrow will be a day in Chateau-Neuf-Du-Pape. We will find out if the 2008 harvest for the famous wine will be a good one!

Kelly, Gail, Eppie, Joan, Suzan, Kathy, Jill and Ann in front of the Palace of the Popes.