DAY 13: BACK TO PONT DU GARD AND NIMES AND FANCY DINNER

TUESDAY  4/17/23

Today the 4 of us visited the Pont Du Gard and continued onto Nimes so Don and barb could visit the Roman Arena. While they were in the arena Deidre and I found a spot in the sun and enjoyed some refreshments.

From the other side of the river.

We had a hard time finding a parking spot when we arrived back in Uzes and ended up parking a record distance from home. Its a different world.

I have been wanting to have dinner at a real French restaurant and tonight was the big night. It was not quite as delightful as I had hoped for. There was only 3 choices for the main course - "veal sweet meats" "white fish on peas" and "lamb something or other". We all avoided the "sweet meats" Barb had the "white fish on peas" Don and I tried the lamb. (This is the first time I have eaten lamb since we were married, and that was no accident.) Deidre bailed out and settled for a salad appetizer. 

Barb received a piece of boiled fish with white sauce, sitting on hard peas. The lamb did had a bit more variety but the lamb was under done with a blob of fat somewhere in it that I rolled around in my mouth while I looked for a pot plant. 

For desert Deidre and I chose "pavlova" and it was little, but good. Saved by the Aussies!

DAY 12: SHOPPING & DON & BARB ARRIVE

DAY 11: WE GET OFF OUR BUMS

 April 16, 2023

SUPER WALLMART & LUSSAN

After another slow breakfast we decided to get moving so found the car (not always a simple matter now that Kylie has left us) and headed off to a "big" supermarket that Deidre had discovered. It was about 10 miles away. And it turned out to be very large, like a Walmart Super Store and it was open - most of Uzes is shut down for Sunday. Deidre had a list that she split with me and eagerly sought out the goodies we were missing. Five minutes later we were told to exit  because the store closed at 12:30PM. We paid and left with a few things. Another item for the "I did not expect that" list.

We happened to be across the road from a McDonalds, and it was about lunch time, so we decided to have a meal that we would fully understand. Bacon burger with a small fry and coffee. Just like in the USA we decided not to do that again.

The French countryside is just wonderful so we decided to go for a drive. Deidre picked out "the prettiest village in France" - Lussan - and we found it on Google and got under way. (Using Google maps in France is great, but our "guide lady" is American and so pronounces the French names with American phonetics. So Nice ("neese") becomes "nice" etc. 

The country highways around us are typically narrow with two lanes, and often lined by large elm trees. (Deidre thinks they are elm, I have no clue.) They are beautiful to see, but certainly choke the road and would be fairly "final" to hit at any speed.

In the French countryside the little towns are often on a hill with the catholic church on the top. Lussan is just like that, but a bit to the extreme. Its quite a steep hill, mostly surrounded with cliffs, and in effect a small walled city. It has been well looked after and quite charming. 

We had to park below the village and climb an access path. We wandered around the perimeter road for a while then into the village center, and goodness gracious,  there was a bar and coffee shop for us to take a well earned rest.   

Deidre does not like dogs, but for some weird reason dogs are attracted to her. While we were enjoying our coffee and cake, a nice dog brought over a stick, dropped it on her shoe and asked he to toss it. Once she started the dog enjoyed is so much that she (the dog) did not want to stop. I eventually stuck the stick in her collar so we could sneak away while she (the dog) searched for the stick. 

On the way home we noticed a new housing development. French architects are obviously very imaginative. "Wow, two windows on the top floor! Let's buy that one honey!"

The "standard"

The "deluxe" with "his" and "her" doors (or maybe an in-law sweet?)

DAY 10: ANOTHER MARKET DAY

 The good news is that Kylie made her flight. Her advise to us is to allow plenty of time when its our turn to leave.

Another slow morning (I folded and put away my washing - that slow) but at about 11 AM Deidre decided that it was another market day and declared her intention to participate. Apparently we need some frogs legs, or something. I took a shower and left to finder her.

Turns out, this was a super-market. Just about the whole town was participating. 

It was a very busy scene, the whole town was loaded with stalls selling food, clothing and the rest. I had to wonder where everybody parked. 

I unsuccessfully tried to find a beret. Eventually I asked the hat-man and he replied "Oh non monsieur! Only people in Normandy wear those!"

That afternoon was quite cold. I went for a walk to get my steps but came home before I got my 10K, it was just too cold for the way I was dressed.

DAY 9: A QUIET DAY

 April 14, 2023

The view from our bedroom window

Nothing going on today. Deidre did the washing and we hung it out to dry on the top patio. I walked to the "supermarket" (3 miles round trip) and picked some groceries. I took out the rubbish. We went out for a crepe lunch. Kylie had a good time in Paris - she flies home tomorrow. That is it, and now its time for bed.

DAY 8: Kylie to Paris via Avignon

 Thursday April 13, 2023

Today we said goodbye to Kylie.😒

We drove her to the TGV station in Avignon and she caught the 12:30 PM direct to Paris. She will stay two nights in Paris, leaving Saturday morning at 10:30 AM It has been great fun to have her with us, plus she helped us to find where we had parked the car. 

When we made it to our parked car this morning, the street was "guarded" by a couple of nice gendarmes. Their duty was to cut off all vehicle access to central Uzes because of a protest crowd.  They gave us authority to get to our route by driving down a couple of narrow one way streets. Bit nervous making, mirrors tucked in, but we made it.

Looking at CNN we discovered that 600,000 people would be protesting in Paris today. We sent Kylie a warning. (We learned just now that she was safe and tucked into her hotel.)

Inside the station. 

Oh dear. She is leaving.

I thought the TVG train station looked really cool

After Kylie left we decided to spend the rest on the day finishing off our tour of Avignon. Of course, we started with a nice lunch.

My fault, I forgot to tell Deidre to smile!

Onion soup, Yum.

A fancy theatre on the main drag

The Pope's Garden in the Pope's Palace. I think he needs a new gardiner.

The Pope's front door after the Reformation.

                  Fort Saint-André - a 14th century fortress (per Wikipedia)

Another big church. These churches were the FaceBook of long time ago history

Walking on the famous old Avignon bridge

Dinner at last. I recognize this stuff.

DAY -7: Wednesday Market, Arles and Le Grau-du-Roi

 

April 12. 2023

We started off the day shopping in the local Wednesday market. Deidre and Kylie purchased some vegetables and dried fruit. I bought some nougat.

I was impressed with the Asparaguses (there was more than 1)

... and the spring onions.

But especially the nougat.

After unloading our purchases at home (after finding the car again) we headed off to Arles. No particular reason, but it looked interesting (its where the Romans first landed) and it was on its way to the coast (Kylie wanted to wet her feet in the Mediterranean sea).

We arrived in a very busy Wednesday Market. So we sat down and had lunch, like sensible French people do.

The place was quite expensive, so we shared a pizza

We were across the road from the market, and at 1:00 PM sharp the market closed, and in came a crew of impressive machinery and workers with impressive brooms! I need to get Deidre one of those babies!

I was still trying to resolve phone issue so I headed off to find a real phone shop while the girls looked at another church. (What is it about these places?) My search was only partially successful (I will never complain about AT&T again) but at least I got a working number for one of the phones (33-077 4672788). We went to the Vincent Van Gogh museum, but it was closed. 

So we headed off towards the coast and a beach town called Le Grau-du-Roi, which turned out to be the French equivalent of the Jersey Shore. The town is on the coastal end of the Rhone delta and would be totally at home a few miles south of Atlantic City.

The drive thru the delta was also a bit forgetful (it remined us of South Carolina) except for the pink flamingos and the white horses. (Kylie has these photos). 

Kylie wet her feet in the Med and we had a forgetful meal in a floating restaurant. 

Kylie wetting her feet in the Med

We were home after dark. Bit of a long day, best to forget.