Try to catch the sun
I went on my trip today, and yes it was sunny. They get sun for over
300 days a year here, so it is seldom blah. One place that we were,
it was close to 40C!
We started of with a drive to Avignon, the driver, a lady from Taiwan, a couple from Ottawa, and me. We got to know each other, and asalways, people are fascinated by my job. The driver was veryimpressed, fire fighting over here is very important, so much of theirforests are gone because of fire. So, I was feeling a little like the hero that the pilots like to think of themselves. Feels kind of strange.
Anyway, we got to Avignon, and went for a walk on the Pont d'Avignon, or it's proper name, the Benezet Bridge. It was one of the first bridges to be built across the Rhone river, joining the French Empire to the Holy Roman Empire (Provence was one part of the Holy Roman Empire...I learn that today!) but it has been partially knocked down by the river itself about the 13th century (I may have that date wrong). It was originally built by a fisherman who had a vision from
God who told him to build it. On it are two chapels, one that was
Roman in architecture, the other Gothic, one built on top of the
other. The Gothic one was a chapel to protect the fishermen.
After that, we walked up to the Palais du Papes, and actually got to
go inside this time. It is amazing how much money the church spends
on housing one man. There is a lot of restoration going on, and a lot
of frescoes have been destroyed by fire, but it is still an impressive
structure. I kept getting in trouble from the cute staff for trying
to take photos. I managed a few, but there were no signs up, and
others were taking photos. The main reason for the no photo rule is
that the flash damages the ancient paintings and such. I don't use
the flash, but they still stopped me, yet I saw flashed going off
constantly and they never got in trouble.
After we found our way out of the Palais, (it was a bit confusing), we
went for lunch in a little family run seafood restaurant. We had a
nice leisurely lunch, with some yummy fish, salad, a wonderful wine (I must find it!) and desert.
The next stop was Pont du Gard, the worlds largest Roman built
aqueduct. It was incredibly large, and amazingly well built. Two
thousand years old, built with sandstone only, (no cement or mortar),
and still looks like it could stand for another two thousand years. I
was really amazed at the construction, how fine the Romans were at
their building.
Pont du Gard was by far the hottest area that I have seen while over
here in France. 38C+ easily, with no wind. There was a very inviting
river at the bottom, but we didn't bring swim wear and we didn't have
the time. It looks like it would be a really nice place to spend a
hot afternoon playing in the water though.
So, having seen the major attractions, we headed home through the
country, past orchards with peaches, nectarines, cherries and olives.
We past a town that was known for it's olive oil, with old presses on
display on every corner advertising different farms, and countless
fields of olive trees.
The last stop before home was Tarascon and it's fortress castle on theedge of the Rhone. We didn't get far inside, just the courtyard, butwe were told that the rest wasn't worth spending the money on.
One thing of note, we are in a region that the Allies fought to
recover from the Germans in WWII, and a lot of the area has been
damaged from the fighting. On the bridge in Avignon, and on the
fortress in Tarascon, it is very noticeable that there are holes in
the stone from artillery and bullets. It really makes you appreciate
what this region has been through. There have been many wars fought
on this soil.
So, that was my day, it was a nice diversion from sitting at work or
at the apartment all day. Saw some sights, got some sun, ate some
great food, drank some great wine, and had a great visit with some
very nice people.
I don't have my photos up yet, will probably be tomorrow since I don't
want to trust the internet here at the hotel. Better connection at
work.
300 days a year here, so it is seldom blah. One place that we were,
it was close to 40C!
We started of with a drive to Avignon, the driver, a lady from Taiwan, a couple from Ottawa, and me. We got to know each other, and asalways, people are fascinated by my job. The driver was veryimpressed, fire fighting over here is very important, so much of theirforests are gone because of fire. So, I was feeling a little like the hero that the pilots like to think of themselves. Feels kind of strange.
Anyway, we got to Avignon, and went for a walk on the Pont d'Avignon, or it's proper name, the Benezet Bridge. It was one of the first bridges to be built across the Rhone river, joining the French Empire to the Holy Roman Empire (Provence was one part of the Holy Roman Empire...I learn that today!) but it has been partially knocked down by the river itself about the 13th century (I may have that date wrong). It was originally built by a fisherman who had a vision from
God who told him to build it. On it are two chapels, one that was
Roman in architecture, the other Gothic, one built on top of the
other. The Gothic one was a chapel to protect the fishermen.
After that, we walked up to the Palais du Papes, and actually got to
go inside this time. It is amazing how much money the church spends
on housing one man. There is a lot of restoration going on, and a lot
of frescoes have been destroyed by fire, but it is still an impressive
structure. I kept getting in trouble from the cute staff for trying
to take photos. I managed a few, but there were no signs up, and
others were taking photos. The main reason for the no photo rule is
that the flash damages the ancient paintings and such. I don't use
the flash, but they still stopped me, yet I saw flashed going off
constantly and they never got in trouble.
After we found our way out of the Palais, (it was a bit confusing), we
went for lunch in a little family run seafood restaurant. We had a
nice leisurely lunch, with some yummy fish, salad, a wonderful wine (I must find it!) and desert.
The next stop was Pont du Gard, the worlds largest Roman built
aqueduct. It was incredibly large, and amazingly well built. Two
thousand years old, built with sandstone only, (no cement or mortar),
and still looks like it could stand for another two thousand years. I
was really amazed at the construction, how fine the Romans were at
their building.
Pont du Gard was by far the hottest area that I have seen while over
here in France. 38C+ easily, with no wind. There was a very inviting
river at the bottom, but we didn't bring swim wear and we didn't have
the time. It looks like it would be a really nice place to spend a
hot afternoon playing in the water though.
So, having seen the major attractions, we headed home through the
country, past orchards with peaches, nectarines, cherries and olives.
We past a town that was known for it's olive oil, with old presses on
display on every corner advertising different farms, and countless
fields of olive trees.
The last stop before home was Tarascon and it's fortress castle on theedge of the Rhone. We didn't get far inside, just the courtyard, butwe were told that the rest wasn't worth spending the money on.
One thing of note, we are in a region that the Allies fought to
recover from the Germans in WWII, and a lot of the area has been
damaged from the fighting. On the bridge in Avignon, and on the
fortress in Tarascon, it is very noticeable that there are holes in
the stone from artillery and bullets. It really makes you appreciate
what this region has been through. There have been many wars fought
on this soil.
So, that was my day, it was a nice diversion from sitting at work or
at the apartment all day. Saw some sights, got some sun, ate some
great food, drank some great wine, and had a great visit with some
very nice people.
I don't have my photos up yet, will probably be tomorrow since I don't
want to trust the internet here at the hotel. Better connection at
work.
posted by Travelcedric at 13:13
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