Paris

Rain is forecast for both days in Paris but the sun peeps out for a few glorious hours on Sat and that gives us time to make quick visit to the D'Orsay and then a Batobus ride back to Notre Dame. We don't arrive in Gare de Lyon from Avignon until 3PM. Ted and Linda have already adopted a restaurant in Paris as their favorite so we have a Saturday night dinner there for 3 hours. Talk of 8 AM mass at Notre Dame gets shelved. Instead a day of leisure is called for.  We do make mass at noon after a stroll through the bird and flower market. A little Sunday attraction that it is so quintessential Paris. Then an afternoon strolling in the Isle de Saint Louis in bitter cold with constant rain. We stumble into a small restaurant, Aux Anysetiers du Roy, and have a memorable lunch. Everyone has great food that it is prepared by the lady chef right behind our table. Warmed with a lovely wine glow we make it back to the hotel to pack and say goodby. Even with ghastly weather Paris manages to deliver.

Avignon TGV station

Experienced train travelers. Is that a box of wines Linda is carrying?

Actual sun over the Seine illuminates the Louvre.

Riding the Batobus.

Our new friends from Toronto at the Saturday night restaurant .

Mass at Notre Dame is packed

Cozy restaurant

The chef

As if we hadn't had enough to eat we stopped for a hot crepe at a street stand.

After all this cold and blustery weather it is fun to look back on the stay in Villeneauve de Avignon at Le Prieure. This was the last night in Provence and we wanted to get closer to the train station.  Perfect warm weather and sunshine and an ideal French garden. Evening brought cold and a foretaste of what Paris had in store.

We did forget the flag but Linda brought it so it didn't miss this trip.

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Ted and Linda arrive

I have posted three days of the time with Ted and Linda and it just disappeared so later I will have to recreate it. Right now we are at our last day in the south of France getting ready to head back to Paris tomorrow and it is 72 and sunny as everyday in the south has been. Unlike Paris where it rained everyday they were there and rain is forecast for tomorrow and Sunday. We went to Chateauneuf de Pape for a wine tasting and lunch in sun drenched courtyard. We are holed up in a Relais and Chateux hotel near Avignon called Le Prieure and both Cox's are making noises about never leaving. It is pretty much the ideal of France. Incredible service, a flower laden garden where roses and daises run riot under the grape arbors. A wonderful time.

A wine tasting

In a cave

Lunch at La Mer Germaine

Oh the food is good but the wine is better

I know you have heard about the rude french waiters!!

A travel myth as far as we know.

The view from the restaurant.

Picnic in Glanum near St Remy de Provence

The Roman ruins

St Remy

Jon's birthday dinner Arles

The market

Ted carried the straw market basket. Just like a native.

Cheese

Olives

2000 year old seats. Still in use.

After a casual dinner in Avignon last night we are now off to Paris. The end of the great weather we have had as cold and rain is forecast. Only two days left of this wonderful holiday. Home holds a lot of allure but we have enjoyed the journey and everyday is busy with things to do. I remembered I hate the smell of boxwood hedges in Spain and here in the garden of this lovely hotel. Not something that is a problem at home. Jon is looking forward to ditching the car because driving is a chore and parking a real art. Big wide roads and lots of parking are going to be fun again. Our great friends and family that live in Europe, we have enjoyed tremendously but we are looking forward to the ones we miss at home. A great time and time to move on.

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