Day 40, 08-08
After a fail trip to our local patisserie we got supplies from the supermarket next door to us. Got on the train from Nice to St. Raphael, then had to gap it onto our connecting bus – such a mare! We had about a 3 minute gap, but had no idea where the bus terminal was so it was another running up and down flights of stairs with our horribly heavy luggage situation. We finally made it though – onto a bus at full capacity with lots of young French people who stared and thought they were very cool. The bus ride was a bit restless, but we arrived to St. Maxime – the cutest little seaside village. We couldn’t check in as it was only lunch time, so we dropped off our stuff and walked for the next two and a half hours. It wasn’t even two and a half hours big but we stopped at all the patisseries and jewellery shops. There is an amazing chain here called La Tarte Tropezienne – the best I have seen so far in my French travels! It is filled with the usual – tarte au fraise, pain aux raisins, eclairs etc, and they also have a bread selection, and a boulangerie section which is the savoury bakery side. Everything looks so delicious! I got a peach tart and a slice of pizza. St. Maxime is veery little and cute. There is just one main road which is along the water, then the pedestrian area winds in little alleyways up the hill. They have really funny shops in the South of France, they are called Blanc (white) filled with only white clothing, or Le Ble en Herbe, filled with only white and herb coloured clothing; we also saw one which was just filled with nautical themed clothing. Finally got to try snickers gelato, and also specaloos flavour which is this local cinnamon nutty biscuit. We walked back down towards the beach which was a lot less commercial and industrialised than Nice and Cannes; though still full of people. After check in we made our way back to the port to catch the ferry to St. Tropez – literally the bay opposite us, about a half hour WINDY boat trip. Unfortunately we never made it to the famous beach side of the island –Pampelonne, will have to do that next time! St. Tropez is a very nice area though; a smidgeon of expensive cars, a bay of super yachts, lots of expensive shops, but still full of history, tradition and character. Dinner was at a wee restaurant in the midst of it all – I got the set menu and had a repeat of Lyon soupe de poissons (the rouille sauce and cheese were better, but Lyon’s croutons and soup were better), a mixed grill and fries for mains (duck, chicken, lamb, beef but I swear they didn’t have duck…sad face), and we shared the crème brulee for dessert which was so very vanilla creamy and delicious. It was a lovely night! Had a mare-ish wet ferry ride back to St. Maxime which was rather invigorating, somebody dropped their lemons and they were rolling all over the floor. Ho no!
Day 41, 09-08
The EARLIEST start yet – 5.30 wake up to be on a bus by 6.30 back to St. Raphael, where we had to train to Cannes and then train to Avignon. We had bought our lunch the day before from our beloved La Tarte Tropezienne but unfortunately it was a wee bit stale, mega stink. It was a very long and tiring morning but we arrived in Avignon around lunch time. My train ride was spent next to a lady who wouldn’t keep quiet while I was trying to sleep. I learned from her that yesterday was the day of the strong Mistral winds (?!), and that Avignon used to be where all the popes lived. Our hotel is right on the main road in town. It is quite a small city centre, and reminds me slightly of Lyon but a bit dirtier. We walked up through the main square Place de L’Horloge filled with the usual square necessities (restaurants, merry-go-round, hawkers) and up to the Palais des Papes (Popes!) area which was up a wee hill with a beautiful garden. We didn’t go inside the palace but had a good walk around. The garden had awesome views over the Rhone River and also over the famous historic bridge Pont d’Avignon which is now broken off before it reaches the other side of the river. Avignon still has its old city walls up (like Ovila in Spain! Et al) which we walked along for a bit before coming down and walking along the river side. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at souvenir shops and then along the main street. For dinner Nush was super stoked to have found the sushi place she had raved about in Paris so we got a whole lot to share between us back at the hotel including an interesting chicken ceasar and a ‘passion’ roll which was inside out tuna roll with salmon and avo on the outside! Damn lady at reception cheated us with our internet. Night time got a bit dodgier around our area but we had a little walk to see where would suit us for dessert. After a blatent fail to the street the reception lady said was good we ended up back at the supermarket. To cut a very long story short I then ate 4 snickers ice cream bars. WTF! There wasn’t much else that could have been done though, we were in a situation. After a sickening aftermath we embarked on a new fitness and food regime with the thought of the Greek Islands clearly in our minds. Half an hour of exercise later I felt better but now very sweaty. Hopefuly it’s uphill from here. Hehe.
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