Full moon over Nice

Showered and out to dinner at a nearby restaurant, L'Ovale, recommended by Rick Steves. The name refers to a rugby football but the place is charming if not a bit bright--sports bar gone French cuisine. We had the goose casserole--a delicious pot of goose confeit with white beans. The waitress delightful with her mix of French and English to match mine. Sarah off to bed. I have the option of bed (to early), find a bar (not motivated) or sit in the lobby of the hostel chatting with all you folks and maybe a traveler or two. I think I'll entertain y'all with more notes from Avignon...

After-dinner cafe' kicking in. Sarah off to bed in our red velour room at Hotel Marion (?) well protected withing the ramparts of this walled city. Avignon: cobbled streets, dark alleys and neuvoux chic mixed with midievil ambiance. City of popes, artists and a bridge of children's song. I'm sitting under a red awning drinking a sweet Belgin Grimbergen at Lou Mistrall, on of several restaurant/bars/brassiers clustered together under massive maple trees with leaves just starting to fall. A variety of music from different corners. A variety of language everywhere. Nike swoosh on the shoe store across the street. Gleeming white columns of the city offices next door. The night is balmy yet a little cool while half a moon hangs bright over the Rhone. Even tho we arrived late we got in two big ones: the bridge of Avignon and the Popes' Palace. The song written originally as a "pillow song" for newlyweds changed over the years to the children's song many of us remember. It's doubtful anyone danced on the bridge as it was quite narrow but they did dance and picnic under it on the many islands it span in the 18th century. Today, Avignon's most notable feature, the reaming 4 arches and chapel draws tourists the world over. 

In the 1300's the pope decided he needed better protection than what Rome could provide, packed up a few robes, a bunch of gold and Jesus and moved to Avignon. This house the pope build is more massive and defendable than any other castle or fortress we have yet seen. Papal rooms with hidden vaults in the floor, anterooms of palpal bedrooms with scenes of reserection still painted on the walls, a dining room big enough to seat 200 and a chapel even bigger with this months art exibit of videos of frogs, pigeons, and donkeys loose in this sacred arena and snake charmers on 20 ft screens all reportedly with bible references. A feeling of awe on so may different levels.....

The moon is full and high and it's just a bit too far to walk to observe it's reflection on the sea. We should be home by Thurs. and back to work on the weekend. I enjoy this travel gig. I think I do it well. Could do it for quite some time but it will be good to get back to the comfort of our own home, our friends and find out if we still have a bank.