Eking out a few last moments

Having to check out of Air Bnb by 10.00 really put pay to my plans for a long run, could have done something shorter, but pressure on now to do something when we get back this week.  We are away again next weekend so London Marathon training is relying on residual fitness to simply get around in one piece.  Guilt trip over, took a couple of hours to pack and generally chill in the AirBnB.

Said aurevoir to our genial host Delphine, who looks after the property for Francoise. If Jean Claude had popped in from La Rochelle I'd have been back to my Tricolore book for GCSE French.  Best recommendation I can give is to take a look here https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/6877431?source_impression_id=p3_1661094005_0fn1t2zDm%2BSdl3BF

Done our calculations for the journey to Marseille airport, we reckoned on one decent stop somewhere in Provence. Changed a few times over the last 24 hours but ultimately settled on the evocative name of Avignon and set the google maps for there. Retraced our regular journey of the last few days around the base of Ventoux and about an hour later we were on the outskirts of this old walled city.

Deeply religious history meant that the papacy had a home here for a while in the 14th century and a lot of the architecture, ornaments and buildings are a nod to that.  A bridge that spanned half of the Rhone caught our attention and we paid 18 euros for a pass to walk across it, understanding the elements built very much with a religious service in mind, and also seeing how it had succumbed to the natural world around the 16th century.  Pont Saint Benezet, remember that name, I'm finding it hard to.

A walk up onto the walls allowed for a few more pictures and the spot of an outdoor restaurant in the square below. Also some wandering around lavender shops, out of season for lavender, but clearly a bit export of these parts. Made our way to aforesaid restaurant for a last bite to eat on french soil, going for a simple burger myself, medium done, felt more french that way!

It was then a successful negotiation of our indoor car park, always a worry those, and onto the main roads towards Marseille. About an hour on the toll road, 7.20 euros each way been the only tolls we have had to fork out at the peage.  Refill of the tank around 68 euros and has been worth having a car (and bike) to get around on this rather quick trip.

And so into the airport, through the fastest check in ever (who needs the fast track queue although we have enough BA points to use it), I do appreciate good service when it emerges!  Nice and simple flight home, chance to take a few photos of planes and leaving the earth, always a buzz of excitement even at the end of a trip.

Short and sweet today, real world again tomorrow and the beginning of a plan for future trips but time to do the thing that allows me to do the other thing.

Will do a self indulgent 50 new things we've done on holiday postcript blog when I get chance but I won't share that publicly, so you might revisit the blog at some point if you are really bored!

(Carys)

For our last day, we were all up fairly early, trying to sort out our things that seemed to end up everywhere, despite our short stay? We got everything packed away, and tidied up the house, taking a bit of time to appreciate how beautiful it was, and we'd had a really good time here. Said a quick goodbye to our host, Delphine, packed up the car and headed off. 

I was feeling slightly sick, so tried to distract myself in the car, and upon arriving in Avignon, used thew pretty sights as an alternative distraction. It was a lovely  town, with quite fairytale-esque buiuldings, including of course the palace and it's wall. We had a little wander around, paid for a visit of the unfinished bridge, which had some nice views from it, and then decided to eat some lunch in the square next to the palace. I ad a starter, still feeling slightly ill - a goats cheese and vegetable pie. Maybe not the best choice, as although I've expressed my love of goat's cheese frequently here, it's quite rich and din't help me feel much better. 

Once we'd finished, we drove to the airport, and checked in the bags. We went through security and bought some snacks to eat before boarding the plane. The flight again went by super quickly and before we knew it, we were back in the UK. We enjoyed a pretty sunset on the car journey home, and I ate a pasta pot for dinner from M&S followed by some chocolate. A short finish from me today, but would just like to say I've had a brilliant time as usual, and i'm very grateful for these opportunities.