Life in Avignon

We have now been in Avignon for almost a week and a half. Well technically our language facility is in a little village called Morieres-les-Avignon, which is about 20min East of Avignon.


This is our home for the rest of the month

A kiwi based over here has kindly lent us his spare car, which has made life here much simpler. I picked up the car a week ago after he picked me up from the airport. I would call myself a rather confident man at the wheel, with many years experience and different types of vehicles under my belt. But the 45 minute drive to Catherine, was certainly an interesting one. Driving in a foreign part of the world, with the signs in different languages, different road rules, and the obvious biggy was having to drive on the other side of the road (and car!). Lets say it was a rather humbling experience for me, feeling like a school boy sitting his learners licence!


Our smooth 4 wheels

In the weekend we visited one of most visited historical sites in France, which happens to be in Avignon, 'le Palais des Papes' (for you english speakers that means 'the Palace of the Popes'). It's really interesting to find out more about the history of the country we will be living in for 3 years.


A great view of the Palace from the other side of the river. The city is surrounded by an impresive fortress, which you can see in front of the Palace.


The entrance to the Palace


The Palace was built in the 14th Century, so it's almost 700 years old! It's called le Palais des Papes because the Popes of the Catholic church were based here in Avignon for about a 100 years instead of Rome.



The view from the top.

We've both had our first dose of the French flu, so we've being going slower than usual. But otherwise in good form.