This post is taken from my French travel journal and my trip through Southern France in April 2018. For some reason my iPad and Blog were not communicating at the time so I was unable to write posts. At home I am able to blog "post" travel! Thanks for joining me on the journey!
Got off to a bit of a late start this morning but we enjoy listening to various street musicians who play most everyday as we walk to our car park. This morning it was a man playing the saxophone beautifully and with great passion at the steps to the Popes Palace!
We pass by Pont d'Avignon on our way out of our car park and was built in the 1100's.
We are enjoying the trip to Nimes along a little country road when we came across this chapel. We remembered it from a trip we took many years ago. La Chappelle Saint Laurent near Jonquieres is a Medieval chapel and was recently renovated. Nice time to take a break and stretch our legs.
Nimes is a lot bigger than we remembered and the town was filled with people - actually a ton of people for a weekday. We finally find Centre Ville and a parking spot. Walking over to the Roman Arena we pass a couple of ......pirate boats?
There is noise coming from the arena and I am thinking they are testing a sound system for a concert. Maybe the Rolling Stones?
As we rounded the Roman Arena we run into........
......Romans............country people with sticks & rakes............Gladiators.............oh my!
They are practicing for a weekend re-enactment of Spartacus. My understanding is that Spartacus (111-71BC) was a Roman soldier that deserted and became enslaved and eventually escaped with 70 other slaves.
Even Julius Caesar was there! Holy cow!
I'm enthralled but Le Mr. B thought it felt too much like a Pirate Faire so we found a restaurant across the street for lunch - La Grand Cafe!
We had plans to go to Musee Calvet in Avignon late that afternoon as it was our last night in Provence. So we purchased a few post cards and walked around the arena enjoying the sights.
Why?
Oh my!
I guess even girls in chains need their ciggy breaks.....
Unfortunately I got my museum closing time wrong and they were just closing down when we arrived. So we enjoyed some free time in Avignon and returned to our hotel to freshen up before dinner at Restaurant des Teinturiers.
Mr. B had phoned this restaurant three different times. On Wednesday they said that they were not open that night and on Thursday when we had reservations, the restaurant called to say they had an urgent matter to deal with - so Friday night was our last chance to experience this restaurant. Mr. B had read great reviews of this place and they had become phone friends exchanging their messages.
The chef, Ollivier Guillaume came out to greet us and to thank us
in our perseverance in getting a table. He explained to us that his wife had just had a baby and needed him at home. Later he brought out photos of his beautiful family. He was so kind that I asked him if I could take a photo in front of his restaurant to paint!
Mr. B had a seven hour cooked veal with polenta sticks.
And I had foie gras ravioli in a mushroom and truffle cream sauce. Talk about a heart attack!!!
It was so incredible that we licked our plates............
....and were in awe of this beautiful evening and wonderful food.
Dessert was a berry cobbler with ice cream, caramel sauce and fresh berries.
While strolling back home we stopped for a glass of wine and a little music.
This poster was in a window and it's what Mr. B's face looked like that night!
Delighted!
"A tree is known by it's fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost;
he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,
and he who plants kindness
gathers love."
--Saint Basil
