Sticking around Avignon for the weekend before we move on on Monday.
Outdoor market day today, it is the second time we have gone to this market in Avignon and it may have doubled in size since the first time. So many new vendors today. Picked up a couple of things to get us through until Monday, but nothing too exciting. Oh, finally broke down and bought some strawberries to add to our salad. All the excitement about France strawberries being available, now we understand, they are absolutely delicious, but oh so expensive compared to when they are in season at home. We bought from someone that only sold asparagus and strawberries, 2 of the things that are in season right now. 5Euro for 1/2 kilo, ouch, but yummy. Who knows what prices are going to be like when we get home, maybe it won't sound quite so bad what we paid here.
After lunch walked up to the park above the papal palace. It is a beautiful day today, I think maybe the first day I didn't take any kind of jacket or sweater out with me, and a short sleeved shirt. Lots of people in shorts and skirts now, feels like spring is really here. Lilacs are out in bloom, tulips and iris are finished. Being here for a month we have seen a big change in the trees and blossoms.
Stopped for a beer and spritz at our favourite little local bar behind the popes palace. They have expanded the street seating and added a couple more tables outside, we were lucky to get one in the shade as it was now around 25 degrees.
On the way back to the apartment we happened across a parade. We knew something was going on in town today for kids and a parade was involved but we thought it was much earlier than this. Followed the parade of a band and 5 huge dressed up characters with a frog up to the papal square. Lots and lots of people, it was fun to see the kids so excited. The frog was a dancer and did a routine with aerials. I can't imagine how hot those characters must have been, they kind of were carrying the costumes on them, they weren't wearing them, hopefully Andre got some pictures. The strangest thing about this show is the MC did it all in English???? I haven't hear hardly any English except for tourists, this was obviously a local thing, no idea why it was in English. His microphone was so bad and hard to understand maybe it didn't really matter.
Back to the apartment, rest up and off to a free concert at a church again. Definitely will not show up 1 hour early tonight.
Should have shown up 1 hour early, or at least 30 minutes early, this time of course the church was full. The church is on the same block as us, so only a 5 minute walk from our apartment. Fantastic music, no matter what you think of religion or churches the old ones certainly have the most amazing acoustics. This was a 5 piece orchestra, 1 clarinet, 3 violins, and a cello. They provided us with a writeup of each of the musicians, amazing where they all went to school, we will have visited all of the cities, Orange, Avignon, Lyon, Aix en Provence. No wonder there are so many musicians and concerts given here, so many music schools. This was a free concert with a free will offering for the musicians at the door, the MC spoke about the importance of live music to be accessible to all. There were over 200 people in the church. Lots of the music was from movie scores, 15 pieces in all, thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Home at 10PM after our 5 minute commute from the church concert. Last full day in Avignon tomorrow, ready to move on but we are going to miss it here. It is nice not having to walk with a GPS to know where we are!
Steps 11,000 or 7 KM
More options for eating and taking premade food home.
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