It's this way, no this way, here come the locals!

  Avignon, Provence, France
Saturday, August 9, 2008

Here's the situation, we booked the train, albeit the train was late leaving Lyon. We got on ok and we arrived into Avignon ok. Now we need to find the bus from the directions given from the website. Ok we found the bus as suggested and the directions say "Get the no.6 or 3 bus to Min". So we arrive at Min...........now what??? The directions end there....in the middle of no-where!!

So we begin to walk, looking continuosly for this illusive hostel - The Vert Hotel. Half an hour of wandering aimlessly we stumble upon what can only be described as "The Hood"!!!!!!! - This place was rough, chavs are bred here for experiments!! Enter a wrong turn and into a school yard we go. Local kids swarm round the English couple shouting at us in French!! So we decide to take a shot and ask them for directions - big mistake!!!! Further into the depths of the hood we go and all is not well when the kids try climbing a fence while pressing buzzers on gates - er time to go!!!!

After the escape a passer by helps us and we turn around and begin the half an hour walk back to where we started (bearing in mind the luggage carried and 30+ degrees) and then something twigs - see picture below!!!
Heather is stood at the Min bus stop - can you guess where the hostel is????

Duh! I think it's near here somewhere!!!

Apart from that Avignon is a glorious town surrounded by thick medievil walls which put the bar walls to shame!
Today we visited the Palais Des Papes - a gorgeous palace at the top of the town. After which we enjoyed a visit to Rocher Des Doms which were beautiful spiralling gardens and water features that give 360° views of France - amazing.
The Vert Hotel is gorgeous with lots of little courtyards - see piccys.
Made plans to go on to Nimes, Salon De Provence and Aix En Provence before finnishing France with Nice.
Hope all is ok in your worlds and hope we are distracting you from work!!
Take care
Heather and Jamie