CARCASONNE to AVIGNON

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CARCASONNE to AVIGNON 17th May 2007 (Thursday Overcast and Windy 17º - 22º and Sunny Breaks Avignon).

We depart Carcassonne as we found her - grey and windy.

We elect to take a quiet provincial road through Sete and are amazed at the hundreds of Camper Vans that are parked on the side of the roadway. Even though the weather is not playing its part it does not deter these holidaymakers - they are impervious to the weather. They are, I assume, either Brits or Germans and as they sip wine out of plastic glasses and try to look relaxed in their new deck chairs the weak sunshine is obliterated by another cloudbank.

Further on we stop in Beziers to stretch our legs before the run into Avignon. Beziers is a pretty little place and the old Cite is perched high on a hill overlooking the confluence of several streams and a river. It is here that we notice one of the many canals that criss-cross the French Countryside - lovely elongated barges cruise at walking speed along these tree lined canals. The barges are used as mobile accommodation for those wanting to see the countryside at a leisurely pace.

The run into Avignon is without incident and we find a parking spot in the old town and seek out the TIB. We look for a listing of Chambre D’Hotes and find that these are more likely to be found in the Country rather than big Cities like Avignon. We check one out but it might as well be in Molong as it is a bit far from the best bit of town. We opt for the shabby charm of the Central Hotel, which, believe it or not, is centrally located.

It has a pretty little courtyard dotted with wrought iron tables covered in pastel coloured tiles. This is where breakfast will be served.

After checking in to the Central Hotel we check out the Town and decide that tomorrow we will have plenty to see. We choose the Restaurant Hotel De Ville for Courgette Tart followed by Chicken with Beans for Deb and Chicken Mousse and Sea bass pour moi. We follow this with Cheese and Red Wine.

Home to the Central for slumber and a spot of ‘mossie’ bashing as we left our window open and the room has filled up with them.

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Photos

Beziers
Pretty little place where Rivers and Canals meet.

La Palais de Papes
The Palace of the Popes in Avignon.

Central Hotel
The centrally located Central Hotel Avignon.