Hotel restaurant des Doctrinaires Beaucaire

Plan was to stay in Avignon but when we arrived we decided it was too big for us and after driving around the outide of the ramparts of the old city walls - very cool and the main thing we wanted to see - we made our way onwards to Fontaine de Vaucluse which is 20kms past Avignon. We arrived just before dark and found an Aire de Service at the edge of town where settled in for 2 days. The town ...

... the security of this fortress. Brian scoped out several indents where floor beams had been inserted, and hinges for doors had been drilled, as well as a fireplace opening. After the 1830’s it’s been used for local bull-fights and has been undergoing extensive renovations. Sandblasters pierced our ears and evidence of new stone was everywhere. Part of me was sad to ...

... to wander around this town ad see the exact places that are pictured in famous works. It’s amazing how much closer you can feel to a person just knowing you’ve been to the same places. But of course, 120 years later things have changed. Buildings are gone, skylines have changed, and 20th century influence is everywhere! Not quite as romantic ...

... the wind to walk across the bridge in the evening to Avignon for dinner. This morning we went on a wine tour (I know, but it is too hard to resist) around the Cotes du Rhone with Phillipe, a very competant and helpful local guide. We ended up at Chateauneuf du Pape drinking wonderful reds which has been a wine hightlight of the trip - the village has the most amazing view of Provence ...

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... is impressive, the outskirts dead on a Sunday but eventually we worked our way into the centre of the city to find a bustling cafe scene and many rugby lovers about. The afternoon was spent watching NZ v Scotland, our Aussie friends joining up after their game for some drinks and dinner for 12 (became 8 &amp; 4 as it was way to hard too find tables). Monday 25th Sept - Again we headed to Beaucaire but only ...

... and arches. Then we drove through the Camargue area of marshes,what the French call beaches - wild,white ponies,pink flamingoes and bulls with long horns which are used in the bull fights where the matadors pick off rossette from their horns. The bulls are not killed but I have to say we bought some bull sausage from local vendors and it was delicious. We took a day drive to Arles - another ...

... them full time. Quite a lot of English people live fulltime on the Canal and of course, many modern craft trawling up and down. May 1st was a holiday and none of the locks were open so we organised ourselves to be in a stretch of the canal where we enjoyed the peace and cooked gourmet feasts on board. When we reached a shower and water topup spot, we headed straight ...

... office(nothing is easy for find in France). Spent 2 nights in a so-so hotel in Agde which we thought would be a lovely village as it was originally a trading port for the Greeks. There must be a great shortage of money for most of these towns as they are in poor repair, doggy doo everywhere and generally disappointing. But the weather was holding at this point. Next morning we headed off to the boat yard with much anticipation. The ...