Thursday saw us visiting the hilltop village
of Les Baux Avignon
for a few hours before we headed east to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. It was blowing a
gale with no sign of the sun so sightseeing became a tad difficult, especially
at Les Baux with it being perched on the top of a rocky outcrop, so
unfortunately no photos there. We probably didn’t do Avignon
justice but what we did see of the huge medieval city centre was très
remarquable. Seventy miles driving and several miles walking told us it was now
time to rest and what a lovely place we have chosen for that!
Thursday night was ‘le foot’ night with City v United on TV,
unfortunately the staff who promised me during the afternoon, that it would be
on, were not on late shift when we returned, and the evening staff couldn’t get
it. Let’s just say something must have been lost in translation. Anyway, the
bar had a very large selection of beers which we started to sample, not all of
them obviously, 7€ a pint for 8% alcohol content saw to that! We hadn’t been
there long when 3 English speakers walked in, Rob, his sister and their mum.
They were from Los Angeles , Rob is
teaching English as a foreign language in Madrid ,
something I queried in my usual subtle way “How can an American teach English”?
Fortunately he saw the funny side. His sister was on her way back from serving
as a U.S.
soldier in Afghanistan
(respect), so bizarrely they all arranged to meet in Provence !
As she has done triathlons and Rob ran the Madrid
marathon last week you can imagine there was plenty to talk and drink about!
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
The source of the Sorgue river is about 5 miles to the east
in Fountaine-de-Vaucluse, and when the river reaches L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue it
parts naturally before rejoining on the western side of the town. The island
this created became a fishing village, and many of the streets are still named
after fish. The river also encouraged the growth of a spinning and weaving
industry and during the peak there were as many as 66 water wheels harnessing
the natural power. Just 15 water wheels remain and we did the recognised walk
taking them all in.
The main industry now, other than tourism, seems to be art
and antique galleries and shops of which there are over 300 in the town! We
have thoroughly enjoyed seeing what people have produced with such innovative
ideas.
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| Avignon |
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| L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue |
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| We were taken with 'wellie dogs'! |
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