Day Eighty and Eighty-One: French Girls and Avignon

So I needed to get away from Barcelona, not because I’d had enough, but because I needed some quiet. There’s just something about a big bustling city like Barcelona that just drains your soul. True I had just had several nights of very little sleep, but I needed to move anyway. So I chose Avignon. Apparently it’s meant to be quite pretty. It was.

I caught a bus (after missing the one I wanted because they only do online bookings which meant I had to wait around in a park for 1.5hrs like a hobo) to Avignon. It was a good 6h30m trip which allowed me some time to just catch up with everything. I must say I prefer traveling by bus compared to trains, it’s way more relaxed (and much much cheaper). Then I arrived in Avignon. Wow it’s a beautiful town! I had booked an Airbnb for the night just so that I could get away from a dorm room situation for a night or two. For those of you who don’t know Airbnb, it is an amazing app that allows you to book at stay at someone’s home. So I stayed with a French girl, Sophie (pretty yes), in her apartment. Her apartment was on the top floor of her building and had some of the best views over the rooftops (exactly what I needed for some recovery).

 

Last bit of Barcelona: Arc de Triomf

  

This view in Avignon

  

Quite amazing

 
My first night in Avignon was so good! Sophie invited me over to her friends apartment down the road for some drinks and then to get some dinner (apparently I wasn’t dodgy and she liked me haha). Unfortunately English wasn’t the chosen language of the evening and much translating was required. We sat at a small restaurant eating cheese and meats while drinking wine for most of the night. I seriously got my French culture cup filling.

My day is Avignon was fantastic. I slept late, ate a big breakfast and did some washing before heading out to see Avignon and shop some. I saw, walked, picnicked and tried to shop. Luckily i realized I’m on holiday so I didn’t over exert myself.

 

View over the river from a park next to the Notre Dame des Doms d’Avignon

  

In the distance you can see the Pont d’Avignon, a big attraction here (i dont know why)

  

Palais des Papes

  

One of the entrances into Avignon old town

  

Strolling the beautiful streets

  

More Avignon

  

I stayed just ahead in one of those streets

 
Okay so first I have to explain. I had only booked one night with Sophie because she was already booked the second night, so I was either going to move on to Lyon or stay another night in a hostel in Avignon. I chose to stay another night, it’s so much more relaxing than having to rush off to the next destination already. But I didn’t check into any hostel, Sophie had offered for me to sleep on her couch the second night (whoooo). I said yes, naturally.

My second night in Avignon would see me going to a house warming party with Sophie and her friends from university (they all study art or something). My night was filled with French, beer and pretty French girls making smoking look good (is that even possible?) and kisses, so many kisses. I love the French!

What an introduction to France. Next stop: Lyon.