Friday, May 17, 2013

Avignon Revisited


While Avi was here visiting, having never been to France, we went to Avignon.  The city was as engaging as ever, good for walking, good for eating, good for taking photos.  I managed to fit in my usual walk across the Rhone River to Villeneuve-les-Avignon and the requisite short stroll along the rue des Teinturiers – my favorite nook in the city -- where the 19th century dye works used to be and where you can still find some of the old waterwheels that ran the industry, nestled in among the huge plane trees.  We also visited some nearby villages, but more about that another time.

The French have the reputation of being unfriendly, but I have not found that to be true.  After my trip to France last year I wrote a post about the café where I had my coffee and croissant each morning and the friendly barista who worked there.  I went back to see him (and have a coffee and croissant) on my latest visit.  He didn’t remember me at first, but it didn’t take long before he did.  He was as friendly as before and this time I managed to take his photo.  Voila!  Meet Bruno from the Tapenade Cafe.
 
Bruno
 

Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes)
approaching from the rear
 
Palais des Papes
 
 
 
 
Sur le pont d'Avignon
L'on y danse, l'on y danse
 
 
Across the way is the bistro Ginette & Marcel
a great place for a snack
 
No Michelin stars, just homey atmosphere
and home cooking
 
Rillettes!
 
Most people were snacking outdoors
 
Breakfast at the Hotel Colbert
 
 
City ramparts
 
Rue des Teinturiers
 
 
Photos of France are not complete without
CHEESE!
 
 

4 comments:

  1. Love the photo tour. I want to go to Avignon, very much, and danse sur le pont d'Avignon. :)

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  2. Can't wait till we visit there ... so grateful for your recommendation.

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  3. The photos very interesting, but not just as depictions of what you saw, but that I lingered for more than the briefest second to register what was on the screen: the clouds and sky in the
    first few seemed to be posing for you; your choice of capturing both a foreground against a distinct background ... e.g. the purple and orange flowers against an otherwise drab and ancient background street scene was a perfect way of highlighting the old with the new. There is definitely a feel for how France is different from Los Angeles; the table setting in the foreground as distinct from the empty table in the background; etc. This is not an art appreciation class, but I don't see any harm in telling my old friend that I think she really has a 'knack' for capturing a certain 'feel' for what she sees. And I've known D'vora since she was 13!"
    Jerry K

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Jerry! Your comments mean a lot to me. And by the way, I'm pretty sure that you've known me since I was 12!

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