Avignon -Saturday, 28 Mars

A smile maker outside a boulangerie in Avignon 

But before that--

Our route has brought us to so many different paths

We took a detour on our way to Avignon to swing through Orange, where there was a huge Roman ampitheater in the middle of town. We didn't lock up and take time to go in, as we wanted to,get to Avignon with some time to explore, but we got close.

Also in Orange

And then we cross again,to,reach Avignon.

Avignon has the city within the walls, where we went first, but then we had to go outside the walls to find a bike shop where we could get the new tire, along with another patch kit and some spare brake pads that we'll need soon enough. No success yet with finding replacement bike gloves for Alaine, though. Shops still have their winter, full-finger gloves. Hers, fabric weakened and depleted from last year's heavy Continental Divide sun exposure will have to work for the time being, 

Back inside the walled city, we rode around, looked around, picked up some items to share with our host.

We were fortunate to be able to stay within the city with Karin, a world traveling cyclist and rock climber and teacher of German language in Avignon. Her apartment was so nicely situated, and we shared many stories of travels and politics and health and cultures. It was a gorgeous, calm morning when we left, after getting the new tire on and the bikes cleaned up a little.

Before we left town, we visited the Palais du Paps-- an impressive place, made all the more so, it being Palm Sunday-- with the chant of a mass in the distance and, later, many bells ringing parhaps at the end of the mass. (We'll post a video of that cool, timely, unexpected experience, sometime.)