so while en-route on TGV (France high speed train) to avignon, i realised we'll pass by aix-en-provence 1st. so smarty-pants me thought why not we do the day trip now?!
im sure they have luggage locker at the trains and we can travel back to avignon in the evening?
bad mistake!
1st of all, the TGV station is a good 20mins away from aix-en-provence city centre. no prob, i've anticipated that and found the shuttle bus in no time. but waiting for the bus in the freezing cold with our full pack on us wasn't a really fun thing.
upon reaching the city centre, we dashed to the local train station only to find out there's NO luggage locker. *jaws drop*
so poor us got to carry our full pack with us. or rather poor hubbi.
yes, he actually helped to carry my bag in the front. at least 30kg+ in all. worse than his army days im sure. ha.
and aix is really small. at least for me.
the main street -Cours Mirabeau, in the city centre
ok to be fair, aix is really a nice small place with some decent shopping. but i think a day trip is really sufficient. i think im just grouchy cos of our bags. :(
enjoying simple lunch in one of the cafe along Cours Mirabeau
modern shopping centre
ok, so when its time to leave the place, we went to the local train station to catch a local train to avignon. ONLY to find out that there is NO train to there.
*gasp* we can take TGV direct but given TGV station is 20 mins away, im not so keen.
being ever resourceful, we took the 1st train out of aix to marseilles, a big city which SHOULD have direct trains to avignon right? hopefully, we were right. ..
being ever resourceful, we took the 1st train out of aix to marseilles, a big city which SHOULD have direct trains to avignon right? hopefully, we were right. ..
and... we were right! *pheww*
there was one going out to avignon in 1.5hr time.
there was one going out to avignon in 1.5hr time.
too short a time to take a look at how marseilles is, too long a time to wait around.
so... we went to...
feast on mac of cos!
finally, at around 5+pm, we reached avignon.
avignon is really interesting in that its the place where popes stayed in the middle ages.
back then, popes alternate between here and rome! till they decided that rome is the place to be, at least.
the city centre is surrounded by a wall!
in the courtyard of our hotel
totally tired out by the day, we turned in quite early after a quick walk up and down the main street of avignon which is just outside our hotel! :)
the next day we went to visit the palais des papes which is the palace for the popes.
it was quite bare inside. read that most of the stuff were looted or destroyed at many times in history, notably during the french revolution. still, it was a good walk in the morning for us.
interesting facade of building
next we went to the pont d'avignon. which is only halfway constructed. not sure why though.
on the bridge
avignon is also quite a small place to explore. we just walked around aimlessly alot and ate all kinda snacks along the way.
quite a relaxing time for us.
but even that was too boring for me. so i dragged the husband to some museums with me.
quite torturing for him im sure. hehe.
we went to this angladon museum which houses some neat pieces by sisley, degas etc. mainly impressionism pieces.
though i found a gem there, the pink blouse by modigliani!
but overall, very small collection here and at 4 euros per pax, not really worth it.
next, we went to the collection of lambert - which is mainly modern art.
i really think modern art is not for me. too abstract lah.
next, we went to the collection of lambert - which is mainly modern art.
i really think modern art is not for me. too abstract lah.
and hubbi was at best bemused, at worst irritated by most of the pieces there. ha.
this read:" are we evil, or we are evil?"
interesting huh?
next, we are going south to barcelona! *wee*
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