France - Paris & Provence 6 Days Trip : Day 3

Day 3 – Avignon – Arles – Les Baux – St.Remy – Avignon (Provence)



9:00am – Tourism office


We got a private tour which English speaking guide to Arles, Les Baux and St.Remy. There are multiple choices to visit few nearby city depends what you opts for winery or Roman discovery. This half day package from 10am to 3pm cost 280€.



Arles – is UNESCO world heritage site, it first inhabited by the Greeks, but made the most of by the Romans, who left a theater and amphitheater for tourists to gawk at. Famous painter, Van Gogh chopped off his ear here--and produced some of his best work as well.


Our pretty guide, Adeline chooses Arles as our 1st stop cos she wants us to explore the real life of Arles since there is a Sunday market out there. She stopped us in front of the famous attraction Amphithéâtre (Les Arènes). We have 2 hours free and easy around this small Arles town where we can explore ourselves. Adeline challenge us whether we can find out the Van Gogh’s café, the Garden (L’Espace Van Gogh), Roman Theatre, The Place de la Republique (the city center of Arles, the heart of the city. A well known square symbolized by its Obelisk. But also place of the town hall, the church ST. Trophime, the Cloister ST. Trophime and the Church Sainte Anne.) It is all around by walking distance. We are so impressed with the narrow street with the old Roman buildings, the natural and beautiful scene. The aroma of the coffee, the fresh fruits, cheese, lavender scent found everywhere around the corner. You gonna love this town for sure.

Amphithéâtre (Les Arènes

Place de la Republique

Garden (L’Espace Van Gogh)

Les Baux-de-provence – is an extremely picturesque village situated in the heart of Alpilles on a rocky plateau 245m high. This beautiful village area is a stone and cobblestone medieval village time-warped to the 20th century. The village only can be visited by foot and we are all be admired by the ancient houses.

Though we have to walk up and down by the hill with rocky path, but are enjoying shop around many crafts shop selling Provencal products (such as Loccitaine) and souvenirs.

Beautiful window decoration with teddy bears.

Church at the top of the hill.

Loccitane shop

The roads are zig-zags to St.Remy and passes through olive groves and vineyards. Unfortunately, is not the season by the times we are visit.



St-Remy – is another historic and cultural Roman city. It get more famous because of Vincent van Gogh has spent a year at asylum and produced over 140 paintings including the famous starry night, the iris, olive tree and much more. We first visit to the iconic of St. Remy, the Mausoleum and the Triumph Arch. This 2 ancient monuments are amongst the best architectural of Romans civilization in France and believed is the most best preserved in Europe. Adeline did told us the history behind but we really couldn’t remember it.

Just across the road, we walk by a olive garden and to the end is the Asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole hospital where Van Gogh admitted voluntarily. Along the road side, there is image of the painting displayed on the spot as the actual scenery. Sure, you will impressed with his imagination.

We travel back to Avignon at evening. As by our request, Adeline sent us to the Pont Saint-Benezet, also known as Pont d’Avignon. This medieval bridge was built by as shepherd boy (according to tradition) who commanded by angels across the river. But it had been suffered frequent collapses during flood and only 4 arches out of 22 remain today. We have our group photos with our beautiful guide, Adeline here and we say goodbye to her.


4:00pm – The Popes Palace (Palais des Papes)


Another UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the famed Palaise des Papes where 7 successive French popes chose to administer Christendom during the 14th century instead of from Rome. We didn’t pay a visit into the palace but amaze with this sacred monuments built in 14th built century.

The town is crowded with peoples in this Sunday evening. The city seems to teamed with activity as University students having science demonstrations and educations for little children in the small square of the town. Laughter’s can be heard everywhere by those interesting, interactive and funny activities.

France - Paris & Provence 6 Days Trip : Day 2

Day 2 – Paris – Avignon

Avignon is one of the major cities in Provence, Southern France. It famous as it is the city to which the Popes fled when leaving the corruption of Rome in 14th century. We are heading to this city by TGV train. It takes about 3.5 hours from Paris , Gare-de-Lyon to Avignon. We bought the TGV ticket online few months before we depart but unfortunately, we lost in during the train interchange and we are 5 minutes late to Gare-de-Lyon. And this is the biggest lost as we have to re-purchase the ticket. Though it has few schedules but each is with different fare. Finally, we bought 3 hours later train with 80€.

Now, we have 3 hours time wandering at Gare-de-Lyon. As usual, café is our first choice.

Afternoon, we step on our foot at Avignon. There are a lot of apartments near to TGV station. Unfortunately, ours is quite far. Ours apartment is cottage type. In front there is grapes plantation and roses as well. Very fresh and relaxing atmosphere which we can sit at the lawn chair outside the cottage and have some chips and beer.

After some rest, we walk to the bus station and proceed to Avignon town. Bus fare is 1.70€. You find police patrol by bicycle. You see bicycle rental everywhere. Beautiful scene, beautiful people surrounding you.

This is the restaurant we stop for coffee. And here we met a handsome and funny waiter. He can speak fluent English, Spanish, French and Italy. One of the phases I remembered is “If I’m a bird, I direct go that way. But I’m just a human. So, I need to walk, turn left and walk, turn right and there it is.” when we asking for the direction.

 

 

Way back to our apartment, we go Carrefour to buy some vegetables, sausages, pizza and bread for our dinner and tomorrow breakfast.

France - Paris & Provence 6 Days Trip : Day 1

Day 1 – Orly – Chelles - Chateau de Versailles



After the 13 hours flight, we finally reach Orly Airport, France at 9:00am local time. Since this is our free and easy tour, our first thing to do is to find taxi after our baggage claimant. There is information counter but pack with travelers. So, we try our luck walking outside to see is there any taxi. And we are lucky enough to met Ben, a taxi driver who can speak broken English. We show him our hotel address and bargain with him the taxi fare. From Orly airport to our apartment located at Chelles cost us 80€.


Chelles-Gournay is the last station of RER E. From our apartment to the RER station is about 20mins walk or have a bus ride which cost 1.70€. We do some walking for this 1st day under the fresh atmosphere and enjoying the sights. On our way, we drop by a café in this neighborhood to have our 1st coffee and some buns as our lunch. Sitting outside of the shop, sipping the aroma taste of the coffee, breezing wind blowing over our face and this is the slice of Parisian life.

From Chelles-Gournay is on RER E where Chateau de Versailles in on RER C. Paris has a wonderful transportation. All the bus/Metro/RER/SNCF lines are interconnected. Many stations throughout the Paris serve several different metro lines and RER train lines all within the same station. This means that a single station may have several vertical levels plus many different platforms going in opposite directions. Honestly, we do always lost and seeking help from those handsome/beautiful Parisian. All RER lines are letters, A to E and all Metro lines are numbers, 1 to 14. All lines have a terminus station, ie the last station on that particular line. Since we are going to Chateau de Versailles and we are not at that line, we have to play snakes and ladders on the map to go the closest RER C station.

In our case, Chelles-Gournay (RER E)--> Magenta --> Gare du Nord (RER D) --> Chatelet Les Halles (RER D) --> St.Michel N-Dame (RER B) --> Versailles Rive Gauche (RER C). Confusing ? Haha, it is. One easily get lost in this maze. Always follow the overhead signs and wall signs towards the platform. Ask is the simplest and fastest way. People always said French doesn’t speak English, ego and not helpful. To me, it is not. Not everyone of them speak fluent English but they are friendly and helpful. Even with the body language, they show us the way. Some even lead us to our platform then only heading back to theirs. Even we have experience that we standing at the split junction to different RER line and looking at the map, there is a guy stop besides us and ask “You seem lost. You need help?” How warm it is. Moreover he is super handsome French.


So, Chateau de Versailles is on RER C and you are getting off at the last station of Versailles Rive Gauche. Take note that the door will not open automatically. You have to press the button to open it. Once arrive at the terminus station, look for blue “Sortie” sign which means ‘Exit’. Search for the sign of Chateau Versailles and walk around 5 minutes and you reached.



Entrance fee is 15€.