Avignon Thursday 1 May, Day 8

Headed over via Metro to Gard de Lyon. There seemed to be a huge number of French people with suitcases heading the same way, so it was easy to follow the flow. Also lots of stalls selling flowers. After a while we realised today is May Day, and a public holiday in France.  Good that we booked the train tickets ages ago, for the train was totally packed.  There were lots of family groups, with numbers of babies being cute and little children tearing up and down the carriage and a generally happy holiday long weekend feeling. The TGV fast trains are brilliant - comfortable, convenient, fast and convivial.

We were sitting opposite a man about our vintage who was a native of Avignon. He gave us French magazines to read and when we got to Avignon he guided us onto the train to the centre of town, then walked with us to the street in which our Hotel is located and showed us the way to go. A really kind and lovely man who was genuinely interested in talking to us, really open, curious and hospitable.
Thanks to our guide's assistance, we found the hotel without any problem. Much warmer in Avignon than in Paris, and a warm wind - the mistral - blowing, not unlike a warm blustery spring day in Melbourne.

Avignon is an amazing place. The 4 kilometres of 14th century city walls are still intact as are many of the buildings and tiny streets of the old city enclosed therein. We had dinner in one of the open air restaurants along Place de l'horloge -cheap, cheerful and not too bad - and a Demi bottle of Cote de Ventoux, then wandered up past the Palais des Papes, which is just gobsmacking when you first come upon it. As the name suggests, it was the Palace of the Avignon Popes, and a couple of anti-popes as well during the time of the Schism. The walls are said to be up to 18 feet thick.

We are looking forward to exploring the city properly tomorrow. It is nice to be somewhere less frenetic, and good to slow down.