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Geo: 43.9486, 4.80597
Bonsoir, all!
On our last full day of staying in one place, we didn't stay in one place, instead touring the countryside outside of Avignon in search of Roman ruins dating back to the 1st Century B.C., in addition to Van Gogh's footsteps.
We finished the day with a perfectly light, fresh, Provencal meal at a small bistrot around the corner, then headed home to start the packing process, which included smelling clothes to see which were still fit for wear and travel.
For our tour, we booked with a local company to spend five hours exploring the village of Saint Remy-de-Provence and its Roman ruins and Van Gogh's mental hospital, Les Baux and its mountain top castle ruins in the "Dead City," and an incredible 2000-year old Roman aqueduct outside of Avignon, the Pont du Gard.
The St. Paul Monastery and Hospital in St. Remy was the place where Van Gogh spent the last full year of his life and painted almost 300 pieces. We stood in the same places and saw the same views when he painted those pieces from 1889-1890. It was a beautiful and peaceful setting.
The castle ruins at Les Baux gave us our obstacle course-like exercise for the
day, providing wonderful views of the rugged Alpilles mountains and valleys. The next stop was Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct built around 19 B.C. as an important link in a 30-mile long canal. An inadvertent wrong (but well-meaning) turn led us up a number of switchbacks until we stood at the peak of the canyon above the massive, impressive, well-preserved structure. What a view! Then we had to scramble down meandering trails down the backside of the canyon to find our way back to the park and our tour van (far less enjoyable).
Final stop was a viewpoint across the Rhone River from Avignon and the St. Benezet Bridge and the Pope's Palace as the sun was sitting. Stunning!
We toasted (wait for it . . . there's a pun here) the day with a light meal of tartines, a green salad, a glass of Cote du Rhone wine, and tiramisu. Tartines are country bread slices toasted (there it is!) and topped with (Sharon's) chicken and crunchy local vegetables and (Mike's) tomato, mozzarella, and pesto. Sante!
Saw a schnauzer at the flea market near the town market Les Halles this morning and longed to see our four-leggers. Les Halles reminded us of
Entrance to St. Paul Monastery and Hospital
Where Van Gogh spent a year near the end of his life and painted almost 300 works in a year.Pike Place Market transplanted to France! Can't wait to see the kids!
Tomorrow we board the high-speed TGV train back to Paris, where we'll overnight near the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport before our Thursday morning flight home.
Au revoir!
Mike and Sharon
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Kate and Nate
non-member comment
Sounds like you two are enjoying every last ounce of culture, sites, bites, and fun! Do olive trees like those grow in the pac NW?! Love that no matter where you go the smallest nuances remind you of home- your schnauzers are probably cover
ed head to toe in schnauzer farm goodness, might be a struggle getting them home on Friday, they are probably having just as much fun as you two are.Are you two meeting other travelers along your adventures? Keep safe but don't get too close to other travelers ;).