And the rain came down in Carcassonne

First bad weather in almost a month.   Can't really complain.  Very soggy bat and badger retreat to the apartment to dry off in front of the heater.   Grabbing baguettes and pastries on the dash back.
View from our livingroom window.

Carcassonne

Ooops, it was a fiesta day in Carcassonne so all the shops closed at midday (we arrived at 12.30pm).  The medieval castle was open and it was a great place to visit.  It was very windy on the ramparts so the cobwebs were blown away.  By 6.30pm we found the local Irish pub at the end of our street.  It was open and I was drinking French beer.  Anyway we met a mad Kiwi rugby player who had married a French girl and was playing here.  He was pretty drunk so we finally beat a  hasty retreat to find all the restaurants were also closed.  Luckily JQ drummed up an excellent meal from what we were lugging around with us.  As we settled down the rain really set in so we enjoyed a comfy night in.  The morning after the shops are finally open and there is still a light drizzle falling.

Au revoir Arles... On on to Carcassonne!

We hit the road again this morning fir the 2 hour trek to the next destination. Photos below include the Place where we had dinner last night and the view from our little bedroom balcony window. We will definitely be coming back to Provence.

Cake.... I love cake!!!

Last day in Arles

We decided to just have a cruisie day today.  We stayed in Arles. Soaked up the atmosphere, found some lovely cafes and boutiques ( the shop photo is where we got a couple of things for the grandchildren, the owner was wrapping them as I took the shot. ..oh if only we had more space -weight allowance) the children's clothes are disappointing...but the toys are wonderful!
We found a guy painting...I must say that familiar smell of turps.... ooo lala...  gets the creative juices going.   I have collected sooo much material but sadly not enough time to seriously paint.  No biggy...always the studio! 
Also note the Van Gogh photo ...the sign depicts the exact place where he painted... Amazing that the now huge tree was a sapling in the painting!

Dad humour... Or is it now Grandad humour

At the Museum of Antiquities...the Badger proclaims " this place is a dead loss "  as he admires the sarcophagus.... Errrhhhh shakes head.

Smidgen more

Avignon and Nimes

We discovered these two very sophisticated towns. The countryside is so very beautiful. Lunch in Avignon was superb. Sitting in a beautiful square 'place ' watching the world go by...

More of Arles

We spent yesterday exploring the town on foot again.  We took in the rest of the 'must see ' monuments.  Like the Roman ruins,  catacombs, cathedral...fascinating.

PS

Just finished off a rather excellent baguette with a glass of rose' for lunch with a cup of tea and pine nut tart....sort of like a pecan tart but with pine nuts...jury is out on that.  The Badger made short work of it but I doubt I'll be inflicting it on the  PAS crowd.   Learning a heap over here but that??? meh.

Just a few observations.

I loved Spain immensely but the climate is harsh...couldn't live there.  But then, this is coming from a person who cannot for the life of me understand people's fascination with blistering heat...give me a Melbourne winter or even snow....and there is nothing wrong with a platinum sky let me tell you.  Weird I know you may say...anyway the climate of Provence is superb.  A little wee  hint of humidity, mid 20's and a gentleness about the sun...can you tell I love it?
Despite my reluctance to come to France at all...the Badger has made a Francophile of me (although he does warn me this may change when we get to Paris)
The last time I was in France, and admittedly it was no where near here...people were abominably rude, cranky and sooo very superior. Here everyone is helpful, nice and smiling...but then again it would take a lot of hard work and dedication to be a cranky puss here, in this little slice of heaven.
I love the way the French love their pooches.  Mostly you see a lot of men walking around with sweet little 'yappers' of every description.  They take them everywhere....no rules.  Last night I was surprised to see a huuge Dalmatian trot into the Cafe de  Nuit/ Van Gogh Cafe....and promptly take up residence on the chair next to me.    He looked very happy....even happier when he saw my dinner arrive . I gave him my best death stare..."If you think I'm sharing my Duckbeef dog you are sadly mistaken...I'm famished"  ....disheartened he moved on.   His owner had gone inside but then appeared a little later and bent over to turn a little lantern on..oooohhhlalala...good grief ...glad the Badger has failing sight...oh my goodness ..yikes. knickers????? someone buy that girl some.
As for the duckbeef.  I ordered a plate of duck breast...which looked and tasted surprisingly like porterhouse steak...ce'est la vie ...it was delish anyway and I was hardly going to upset Manuel from Fawlty Towers', French cousin. He was a bit of a hoot.
Message for the lovely Gail Frances...tried your Violette ice-cream yesterday...have been on a mission to find it...found it in a sweet little mountain village....heavenly and was scooped into a fresh waffle cone and crystallised violets scattered on the top.  Had a taste but the travesty was...I cannot eat the stuff...had a nibble and then reluctantly had to hand it over to the Badger....going to make him eat some Lavender ice-cream later.  That is thick on the round here.  yum yum yum.

Just a catch up

Forgetting to rate the Badger 's accommodation... 10 out of ten for all up to now...the apartment @ Benidorm was to die for,  the Olive Grove cottage was an oasis...here despite being a little compact...is old... Very old,  but in the heart of the town,  comfy and wonderful.  He has missed his vocation in life me thinks as a travel planner.  I have had an amazing day.   I wish our children and mum could have been here... Then it would have been the perfect Mothers Day. Well done XOX

Mother's day en Provence

Mother's day in Provence, how could I ever beat that?  We started off in Pont du Gard which was a viaduct built by the Romans in 5AD.  Then on to Gordes, a beautiful village on top of a hill.  From there to Roussillon, another beautiful Provence village with nearby ochre mines.   All this was topped off with dinner at the Cafe au nuit, made famous in Van Gogh's painting.  What a day!

Provence parfait!

Arles is lovely, last night I cooked from ingredients we bought from the market.  Mussels in broth and Easton mess from fresh raspberries, cream,  ice cream and lavender meringue...and of course champagne!
We saw the Roman ruins and Picasso's works.   Tonight we dined at Cafe Van Gogh....where he frequented and painted.  Magic!