big day out: Avignon/Orange

Hmm.. Let's see where should I start. Today's reveille activities were simple enough: Wake up at 0500, take the 0541 first tram to the gare (train station) and meet Letch to catch the 0607 TER to Avignon. Or so I thought.

Jolted out of bed at 0525. Couldn't believe my eyes at first, but the truth was that I had indeed overslept (no doubt due to the copious amount of alcohol consumed the night before and now still coursing though my veins). Got up, got dressed, and flew out in record time. Amazingly I managed to reach my tram stop in time and hence I was able to avoid being the saboteur for the trip by the narrowest of margins! Even more amazingly, Letch was already at the gare when I reached. Quite unlike her not to get lost. =P

But the morning excitement was still not over yet!

After buying a train ticket, I guess that most people would expect to take a train. Thus we made our way onto the platforms, but to our dismay we were unable to find our train. And it was already 0605 - 2 more minutes to departure! So we hurriedly went over to the reception counter, and promptly found out that our train service was actually served by a bus, and we had to go to the bus terminus to board our "train"! Well done. The French can be so weird sometimes. Luckily the bus terminus was not too far away and we were still able to catch the bus to Valence, where we ditched the bus for a real train this time to Avignon.

Reached Avignon at a quarter to 10. The sun had risen and the weather looked fabulous. However the morning peace was broken by the many tourists at the gare, no doubt spillover rugby world cup supporters from Marseille who had gone there for the match between France and New Zealand the evening before (France won btw). Upon leaving the gare, it was a pleasant enough walk to the Palais des Papes, our first stop for the day.

The Palais des Papes was the home to the Catholic popes from 1305 to 1377, and it is still regarded as one of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in Europe. Just let the pictures do the talking:

first views of the entrance (top)

entrance (bottom)

Mother Mary at the very top

a crucified Jesus juxtaposed against a serene looking Mother Mary

view of the courtyard

view from the courtyard

feeling on top of the world

We wandered about the massive gardens and parks of the Palais as I did not want to pay the quite princely sum of €7.50 to enter the Palais itself. Anyway the highlight of the day was going to be..

Le Pont d'Avignon! Yes it must be one of the most celebrated and well known bridges in the world, not because it is the longest like the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge in Japan, or it is the most majestic like the Golden Gate bridge, but simply because it is a bridge that leads to nowhere! Yes, le Pont d'Avignon, constructed in 1185, abruptly ends in the middle of the Rhône river because 18 of its 22 arches have collapsed throughout the years due to frequent floods. However extensive restoration works have been carried out to transform it into a safe tourist attraction. =D

aerial view of the bridge

entering the pont

view at the end of the bridge

arches

pont in the foreground and the palais in the background

We picnic-ed as usual, and ended up sleeping at this grass patch opposite the pont. The sun was out in full force, and it felt good to be out there. =) If we could, I think we would have laid there for the rest of the afternoon, but we couldn't because we had a 1621 train to Orange!

Orange was really the hidden gem of the trip. We only found out about it by chance when we googled the map of France, and chanced upon its unique name. No, its not an Orange orchard, and neither is it the capital of Orange SA, the telecommunications company; but rather, it got its name from the Prince of Orange, which ruled the town from 1033 - 1789. Not surprisingly then, that it is particularly renowned for its Roman architecture and it even has the most well-preserved Roman theatre in Europe! Additionally, it is also the warmest city in France, and is also the only city in France to have a Fascist mayor. Truly amazing.

First we headed to the Arc de Triomphe d'Orange. Walking along deserted streets with almost zero traffic was a joy after the more touristy environs of Avignon. The Arc is smaller than its much grander cousin in Paris, but it is particularly fine nonetheless. Nothing much to do there so we headed off to the Théâtre Antique. Its architecture was just so stunning! Unfortunately we could not enter as it was already closed for the day. But I'll definitely be heading back for another visit someday!

train station at Orange

afternoon bazaar

the magnificent Arc de Triomphe d'Orange

below its grand arches

Théâtre Antique

the imposing stone walls

And so that ends my big day out at Avignon and Orange. Hopped on the 1830 direct TER back to Grenoble and reach just in time for Letch to catch the navette back to Rabot and for me to eat some real food. I had gone long enough without proper food. =P