Post by Kim on Feb 18, 2002 22:42:12 GMT -5
15 February
Avignon, France
Hello one and all,
And may I say that I am again on an unusual keyboard....one that has the Q where the A should be, so look around the fantastic typos please! I will try to catch them if I can.
Left Aix yesterday morning, in a cold rain believe it or not. But as I closed on towards Avignon it was clearing and by yesterday afternoon was sunny once again. Not so today as it has been misty, cloudy and downright chilly all day. Still managed to get a good deal of sightseeing done, but pics won't reflect how pretty it is.
If not for the fact that this town's biggest draw, The Pope's Palace was built in the 14th century I would swear Walt Disney had been here! It is a walled town, mostly intact, and for several hundred years (14th cent) was the home of the Pope's before they relocated back to Rome. The 'palace' is very very large, said to be the largest gothic house in Europe. The entrance fee allows you to see most all of it, but sadly it is pretty much just bare stone rooms nowadays, the frescos and ornamentation long gone. Even so, it is impressive indeed. Just beside it is the Dom, an impressive church, but pales beside many I have seen thus far. (I have seen too many really fantastic church's now to be easily impressed! And waaaayyy too many fresco's and paintings when I, a non-catholic, can pick out the various saints but what they are wearing or holding!)
Just below the outcrop that is home to the Palace and Dom is the St. Benezet bridge, over the Rhone, first built in the 12th century, destroyed many times by conquerers and floods and now just a partial span. But fabulous views to be had from there! It seems there is some really famous French folk song about people dancing over this bridge, which accounts for it's fame.
Nearly the entire town is built of a lovely cream colored stone and as most places in Europe there is a vigorous preservation policy in effect. Generally wider streets here than in most, but lovely to walk in and admire nonetheless.
As to why am I surprised? I am baffled and befuddled by the genuine kindness and grace I have thus encountered in France, at least the south of France where I have been. In Aix I asked how to say it when I turned in my room key when leaving in the morning, and when I returned asked for the number in French. You would have thought I had suddenly burst into the French National Anthem by the response I got! Tres bein madame, tres bein! She was so obviously pleased by my small, very small effort and it was heartwarming. Everywhere I have been, every one I speak to has thus far been so darn nice! (Do these folks somehow know that I was convinced how un-friendly and judgemental I thought the French to be?) I don't know that I have been anywhere that I have found the locals to be more kind and helpful than here so far. Quite a change indeed from Brussells! Old prejudices die hard, but they are dying here in the south of France!
I must add that I am, as expected, hating this weather! I am 100% spoiled by warm sunny days and almost want to ride 12 hours to get to Spain for the sun again! But with 27 days to go have mapped out a route that will take me through most regions of France and will stick to that.....for now at least! Off tomorrow for Carcasonne (sp?) and then to Bordeaux. Still anticipating finding the 'sneering French' as I close in on Paris, but who knows, maybe I will continue to be surprised!
take care one and all,
ging
Avignon, France
Hello one and all,
And may I say that I am again on an unusual keyboard....one that has the Q where the A should be, so look around the fantastic typos please! I will try to catch them if I can.
Left Aix yesterday morning, in a cold rain believe it or not. But as I closed on towards Avignon it was clearing and by yesterday afternoon was sunny once again. Not so today as it has been misty, cloudy and downright chilly all day. Still managed to get a good deal of sightseeing done, but pics won't reflect how pretty it is.
If not for the fact that this town's biggest draw, The Pope's Palace was built in the 14th century I would swear Walt Disney had been here! It is a walled town, mostly intact, and for several hundred years (14th cent) was the home of the Pope's before they relocated back to Rome. The 'palace' is very very large, said to be the largest gothic house in Europe. The entrance fee allows you to see most all of it, but sadly it is pretty much just bare stone rooms nowadays, the frescos and ornamentation long gone. Even so, it is impressive indeed. Just beside it is the Dom, an impressive church, but pales beside many I have seen thus far. (I have seen too many really fantastic church's now to be easily impressed! And waaaayyy too many fresco's and paintings when I, a non-catholic, can pick out the various saints but what they are wearing or holding!)
Just below the outcrop that is home to the Palace and Dom is the St. Benezet bridge, over the Rhone, first built in the 12th century, destroyed many times by conquerers and floods and now just a partial span. But fabulous views to be had from there! It seems there is some really famous French folk song about people dancing over this bridge, which accounts for it's fame.
Nearly the entire town is built of a lovely cream colored stone and as most places in Europe there is a vigorous preservation policy in effect. Generally wider streets here than in most, but lovely to walk in and admire nonetheless.
As to why am I surprised? I am baffled and befuddled by the genuine kindness and grace I have thus encountered in France, at least the south of France where I have been. In Aix I asked how to say it when I turned in my room key when leaving in the morning, and when I returned asked for the number in French. You would have thought I had suddenly burst into the French National Anthem by the response I got! Tres bein madame, tres bein! She was so obviously pleased by my small, very small effort and it was heartwarming. Everywhere I have been, every one I speak to has thus far been so darn nice! (Do these folks somehow know that I was convinced how un-friendly and judgemental I thought the French to be?) I don't know that I have been anywhere that I have found the locals to be more kind and helpful than here so far. Quite a change indeed from Brussells! Old prejudices die hard, but they are dying here in the south of France!
I must add that I am, as expected, hating this weather! I am 100% spoiled by warm sunny days and almost want to ride 12 hours to get to Spain for the sun again! But with 27 days to go have mapped out a route that will take me through most regions of France and will stick to that.....for now at least! Off tomorrow for Carcasonne (sp?) and then to Bordeaux. Still anticipating finding the 'sneering French' as I close in on Paris, but who knows, maybe I will continue to be surprised!
take care one and all,
ging