Avignon
Our first two wine stops on the way to Avignon from the Marseilles airport were a bit of a bust. No one spoke English in either one so it was difficult for the host and for us. The first one was not doing tastings until tomorrow but we were able to buy a bottle. The second one, above, tasted us on three reds but we were in Provence, we were wanting rose, so we bought a 5L box of organic Provence Rose for 15 euro!
YUM, Mussels Muniere in Avignon France around 7:30pm after not eating all day due to travels! Half a litre of local white table wine to go with. Can't get better than that! Bud has fresh salmon with tomatoes and some sort of mayonnaise sauce with a roasted eggplant compote on the side . Feels good to be in France, but it was a long day to get here.
We stayed in the Rue des Teinturiers area of Avignon which translates to the Street of the Dyers. The area is next to the Sorgue River where the current was strong enough to push the paddlewheels. At one time there were 23 wheels, now there are only four remaining. This area, from the 15th to the 17th century was the most important economic center of the city known for it's printed fabrics with brightly colored patterns. All this ended in the 19th century, however, the area is now very active in the arts, particularly theatre.
Though the city is full of large old buildings, there are still large trees and greenery all around. The above building on the right is actually a parking garage.
Below is our first stop in Avignon after checking into the apartment and getting all of our luggage up the stairs and then finding a place to put the car. The apartment was a few steps away from a craft beer bar. Bud was in heaven. I tried one, but I did not like it, he had to drink them both! The bar is built into a really old structure next to an old church.
The walls of Avignon (French: Les Remparts d'Avignon) are a series of defensive stone walls that surround the city of Avignon in the south of France. They were originally built in the 14th century during the Avignon papacy and have been continually rebuilt and repaired throughout their subsequent history.
Pictures of Southern France countryside traveling from Marseilles to Avignon. The countryside changes considerably as you head North in France. At one point, just South of Champagne, you would swear you were in Iowa, rolling hills, corn fields, and lots of large deciduous trees. What gives it away is when you see a house though. We don't have houses like the French in Iowa!