Avignon: Les Halles

I can't resist a French food market, bursting with ripe fruit, a myriad of exotic cheeses and freshly baked breads. A picnic put together at one of these markets and then eaten by the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the seaside in Antibes would make a memorable travel experience. Alas, I’ve never done it. And when I visited Les Halles in Avignon it was too early for lunch. But along with the charcuterie and glistening seafood, I wanted to see the living green wall on this modern building on Place Pie.

A Scenic Picnic Spot, the Champ de Mars in Paris

Avignon: Street of the Dyers

At this time of year when I look out the window and it’s cold, dark and dreary, I really appreciate the uplifting effects of colour. And the vibrant print of a Provencal fabric never fails to put a smile on my face. The vivid yellows, reds and blues whisper ‘summer’ to me. Avignon’s Rue des Teinturiers, Street of the Dyers, is where these lively textiles originated.

A Rainbow of Provencal Prints

Avignon, City of the Popes

A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Avignon during a stop on a Rhone River cruise through Provence. The annual Avignon Festival was on and a brisk mistral wind was whipping through the streets –a whirlwind much like my visit. But last summer I spent a whole week there, staying at a hotel just outside the medieval ramparts only steps away from the historic city centre. This longer visit allowed me to see a quieter side of the City of the Popes, Avignon.

Medieval Rampart of Avignon

Avignon and the Pont du Gard

Avignon, July 2012 - The Avalon Scenery sailed at night and we woke up in Avignon, the City of Popes. We'd finally arrived in Provence!

Avalon Scenery double-docked in Avignon