Avignon

Today(Tuesday) we took a bus to Avignon which took only 20 minutes. The winds had abated overnight luckily and the forecast was for 18 degrees. I doubt if it reached that but we managed to stay warm. After walking through one of the "portes" in the town walls (nearly 5km around) we went up to the Office de Tourisme for brochures and V bought some lovely calendars of Provence (which we are now in) and a fancy shopping bag. Further up the avenue was an attractive square,with the usual restaurants almost filling it. We selected one for coffees and made a lucky choice. It was all good, including the toilets, not always the case. Then it was onwards to the famous Palace of the Popes. For about 100 years a succession of Popes lived here , in a massive fortified building overlooking the Rhone river. Outside in the plaza we took the Petit Train for a 45 minute drive around, including threading it's way through the narrow lanes with centimeters to spare. For lunch we returned to the same restaurant and then wandered down some of the shopping streets where V was in a shopping mood. My shopping seemed to involve a round black rubber thing with a hole in the middle. I did not get the hoped for phone call so expect to get the tyre tomorrow. Next we wandered down to the riverside and took a 1 hour boat ride. This was smooth and very relaxing. We passed 2 cargo barges and 2 huge river cruise boats, one from Arnhem in the Netherlands. This may have crossed from the Rhine to the Rhone via the connecting canal. Avignon is a very attractive city but the long distance bus station is appalling (our bus goes on to Nimes). We were glad to be out it and were soon 'home'. Another good day out and now to decide our agenda for tomorrow. Ideas include Nimes, Arles, Orange and various little villages in the Luberon mountains. More soon and best wishes to all.