This is the only way to start the day in Avignon (and indeed, in a lot of other places) with croissants and coffee, in the dappled shade of trees, at a streetside cafe. It is more than a cliche - it really is a way of life.
One of Avignon's claims to fame is that for a period of 200 years (around the 14th Century) a succession of nine Popes resided in what is now called Le Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes.) It is a formidable building and similar to others that have withstood the tests of time, fire, plague, pillage and persecution, there is evidence of 800 year old construction work, as well as renovation and repair.
We've been blessed...with excellent weather!
At one time, the vaulted ceilings were elaborately painted and some of the thousands of terracotta floor tiles still retain their colourful, hand painted designs.
After the Palais de Papes, we embarked upon a wine tour of the Cote du Rhone region. We were the only two passengers in a mini-bus that was driven by a local French girl. We went to 3 wineries - two of which had very modern facilities and visitors' centres and then one of the more traditional 'caves' (cellar doors) in the Chateauneuf du Pape region.
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| Have a look at the rocky ground - apparently these grapes love it! |
A third generation wine maker taught us how to correctly taste the wine and compare the colour, clarity, arches, aroma, etc. We then explored the Chateauneuf du Pape village, including the ruins of an abbey high on a hill above the villages and vineyards of Provence.
5 comments:
Awesome, Dot Dot - starting to feel like spring here at last. Can't wait to see the Japanese spa pics. V.
Bill is green with envy. First you show his favourite breakfast and then you end up in his favourite wine region. He loves Chateauneuf du Pape. Great photos and the view over Provence is breathtaking. Do you keep pinching yourself to make sure that you are not dreaming it all?
OMG, Karen, I can't believe you went to the Châteauneuf du Papa region. You know in the 60s their reds were the number one reds in the world and very very expensive. Nowadays, although they are still very good, the prices have now come down. The village of Châteauneuf du Papa is still on my 'Bucket List'
Mais merci a vous wilbo43 - I went to Chateauneuf-du-Pape because you told me to! It was an amazing day. We looked at the available wine tours and we chose it because Chateauneuf-du-Pape was included. I'll be sure to keep the brochure for you for your next sojourn en France. Stay tuned for the Thun photos!
diane b - the shot of the Provence countryside through the window at the Chateauneuf-du-Pape ruin is one of my favourites. We haven't overdone the castles, so that we can appreciate the ones we've seen.
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