Day 34 Thursday 18th July Avignon

Another hot day.  The continual 30+ temperatures with high humidity are quite tiring but it hasn’t dampened out spirits.

We are now in Avignon (you all know the song “Sur le pont d’Avignon!!)  It is a walled city and the wall is complete.  In the morning we went on our usual guided tour.  We went to the Palace of the Popes on an extensive tour. In the 1400’s nine popes lived in Avignon (instead of Rome) The Palace was interesting but the detail of these guided tours is getting a bit much at times – we have been on so many guided tours! 

We had a yummy BBQ lunch on the deck of the ship then we were off again on anther optional tour this time to see the Pont du Gard.  We had a full coach and it was HOT.

The walk to see the Pont was well worth it.  We looked in awe at this magnificent structure and marvelled that it had been built BC and was over 2000 years old. It is a 3 tiered aqueduct which carried water from a natural spring to the town of Nimes for 5 centuries without a leak!!!  Most of the aqueduct was underground but the bridge part, which is the only remaining part and still in perfect condition, was the tallest aqueduct in the Roman world and was built in 5 years.  The bridge itself is 360 metres long and 50 metres high.  The aqueduct ran right along the top level and was covered in stone blocks to stop anything getting in to contaminate the water.  The surrounding landscape is very rocky (as is most of Provence) so they would have had no trouble getting the materials to build it.  

We then went to a town called Ezes and went on another guided walking tour. With the heat of the day worse in the afternoon we are reluctant to go on this tour (we would have rathered relax in the shade and have a drink or a little shop) but the guide said we must stick together or we would get lost  SOOOO only 15 mins shopping time at the end – very frustrating.

The coach trip today was wonderful.  It is amazing how rocky this countryside is.  The vines appear to be planted in rocks rather than soil.  There is so much agriculture here.  We are in the peak of the fruit season and Paul is in fruit heaven. Every day he buys fresh peaches and apricots. Murray and Lorraine are particularly enjoying the berries and cherries.

We were pretty exhausted after today so didn’t go to the entertainment for the night – some Spanish guitarists.

the wall around the city of Avignon

the town hall

Avignon was having an arts/entertainment festival and
their were signs up everywhere

the cloister inside the Palace of the Popes

inside the kitchen and the people are standing in the oven
they said they cooked 12 cows and 20 pigs and 100 chickens!

the hole is to let all the smoke out!!

the dining room

the pont d'avignon

this little church is the only remaining original part

our ship

the BBQ on the sundeck

my lunch

all the vineyards in Provence were growing in stones!

map of the aquaduct Pont du Gard

first view of it

so old an so perfect. How did they do it?

this tree is probably 2000 years old (cant remember but it was very old)

it was magnificent - a highlight of our trip

the town of Ezes