Tarasque Creature - Day 19

Song - Under Paris Skies Medley by Lee Terry Meisinger

The first stop of the day was the Flea Market in Avignon.  Lots of fun things to explore!

 But the cutest thing I saw there......

 .....was this little guy riding in his mama's purse!

 As we worked our way to the car park under the Palace, we came across some Roman architecture dating from the 1st century. Above it now sits a clothing shop!

Mr. B is pausing to look at the Pope's Palace built on rocks and to admire a song being played by the man on the right with an accordion. The sounds bouncing off the stone walls was magical!

On the way to Arles we drove along the Rhone River past some more bright red poppies and into the town of Tarascon.

 We passed by the Chateau de Tarascon with cannonball holes in the top (so Mr. B informs me).  It is a well preserved castle on the Rhone that was built by the Anjous in the 1400's.

 And the statue of the Tarasque creature is nearby. We originally drove into Tarascon to see if we could find a Tarasque T-shit for Mr. B but no T-shirt shops that we could find! I did get a ton of photos of shuttered windows and beautiful ancient doors depicting the colors of Provence.

 After parking the car in Arles, we stopped for a bite of lunch sitting outside at the Grand Cafe Malarte and then headed into the ancient part of the city.

The Roman Theater

Arles Amphitheater

 We walked around the Amphitheater and enjoyed street music, lively shops and people watching.

Van Gogh lived over a year in Arles before his breakdown.

 Streets radiated out from the arena like spokes on a bike.

 And more photos of shuttered windows for me!

Unfortunately we had to leave Arles before we were ready as our hotel had made us dinner reservations and we had to be on time!

Once again an ancient city built on rock...........it just boggles the mind....well my mind anyway!

We arrived at the restaurant just as they were opening.  It was modern and chic.  Avenio is the ancient name for Avignon we later found out.

The staff was very friendly and the food..................was incredible!

Mr. B ordered a smoked haddock for his appetizer......

While I dined on an artichoke salad with Mangalica ham & Parmesan cheese.

For our main course I ordered the asparagus risotto with morels........mmmmm......

Mr. B enjoyed Iberian ham on seasonal vegetables topped with a saffron sauce.

Dessert was shared but I can't remember what it was......yikes!


I highly recommend making reservations here if you're anywhere nearby.  The chef Jerome Nolin worked for several Michelin star(s) restaurants before opening his own place in Avignon.  You can taste and feel his passion for food!

"Seize the moment.  
Remember all those women on the Titanic 
who waved off the dessert cart."
--Erma Bombeck
 

Returning to France Day 12

Song - Not So Fast by The Hot Club of San Francisco

We had breakfast on our hotel's patio which was cozy and warm. You help yourself to fresh fruit, yogurt, a slice of mild goat cheese with local honey & walnuts and 31 different jams made just for them. They bring your drinks and a large basket of assorted breads to your table.

Who would of thought that goat cheese would be delicious for breakfast?

After eating we drove to Cravant-les-Coteaux where there is a little 9th century church that we discovered on our last trip. You drop your coins into a machine that produces a little token and that lets you into the church and turns on the lights.

It is so rustic and simple and this little place is just endearing to both Mr. B and myself. Maybe because there is so old and so little of it left so it feels like it's hanging on by a thread?

Next stop is near Ambois - Chateau du Clos Luce where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life and died in his bed there in 1519.

 A portion of the paneling that decorates his bed.

 His own chapel which is the white building several photos above.

 His studio where he had a sketching area......

 ....a painting area.......a music area....a sculpting area......

 His amazing sketchbooks are on display.

There is an area where he would grind his own pigments.

And his scientific discoveries.........his kitchen & dining rooms..........his gardens. 

His designs and inventions.

Smaller copies of various inventions were on display.

They had acres to explore with life sized copies of his inventions. But we stopped on the grounds for lunch in the shade and decided then that it was time to head to Chenonceaux.

There is a tree lined walk from the car park and entrance to the chateau. It's just a little stroll but it helps to transition me from 2018 to 1555.......

It spans the River Cher and was built in 1514-1522 on top of an old mill.

From years of walking over these painted tiles, they have lost most of their colors.

The chateau is filled with tapestries, furniture, paintings but what I like most about it are the amazing floral displays in every room!

A bedroom window looking out over the River Cher and the bridge & gallery.

King Francis I seized the chateau for unpaid debts to the crown and after Francis' death in 1547, Henry II gifted the chateau to his mistress Diane de Poitiers who had the bridge built across the river in 1555 as well as adding the formal gardens. When Henry died his wife Catherine de Medici kicked out Diane and took over the castle. She had the gallery built on top of the bridge in 1577. Henry and Catherine had been married since they were both 14 years of age!

Every good kitchen needs a wild boar head!

As well as a long chopping board.

Jean-Francois Boucher is the Master floral designer for Chenonceau and is incredibly talented. He and his team of two create over 200 arrangements each week for the chateau.

Sweet peas the size of a silver dollar and with a heavenly scent.......

Mr. B practically had to pull me out of the building & away from the flowers.  Before strolling back to the car park we had an ice cream in the shade.

We walked back along the vegetable & flower gardens, wine cellar, antique car garage and a little building that was the atelier for the floral designer Jean-Francois Boucher!  There was a sign on the door saying that he gives design lessons.......maybe next time?

 Dinner was at L'Ardonise Bistro on a little street in Chinon - excellent!

 

 Appetizers included a slice of foie gras with a Parmesan crisp 

& aged balsamic vinegar & orange slices and a charcuterie plate

Dinner for Mr. B was a scallop dish with pasta in a light curry sauce and I ordered the veal ravioli.  Both were excellent but the photo's turned out too dark & blurry.

 The third course was Chevre, toast, salad & black cherries....mmmmm....

Dessert consisted of profiterals and they were so yummy.....filled with vanilla ice cream and covered with chocolate sauce.  GONE.....done.....fini....!

"When you look like your passport photo,

 it's time to go home."

-- Erma Bombeck