TRAVEL STORIES: A Day in Avignon, France

The following is from a 2013 trip to Avignon, Franc.

Nestled in an ancient corner of Avignon, France, I find myself under an umbrella, sipping a martini and nibbling on green olives. As I await my foie gras with jellied figs appetizer and an interesting soundingroast lamb dish, I can’t help but marvel at my surroundings. Apparently, this dead end that feels like a beautifully secluded alley with a patina’d door is a former chapel built by the Templars between 1273 and 1281 AD.

Tomorrow marks the official start of the Festival d’Avignon, although events have already begun today. Known as the largest theatre festival in the world, it also includes a fringe festival for “non-professional” acts. This explains the eclectic mix of street performers, including some rather crusty punks, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The sights and sounds are quite festive. Let’s see if I can catch three shows.

Amidst this festival frenzy, I hope to find time to visit the countryside and experience the blooming lavender and sunflower fields, a sight I’ve always dreamed of seeing.

Why do olives taste so divine in Europe, and taste like sour piss back in Canada? Finally, my appetite has returned after my Amsterdam “adventures.” It’s quite relaxing sitting in these charming restaurants and outdoor cafés, nibbling and pondering life’s various mysteries. If it weren’t for that last bottle of wine at the Bar American in the Hotel de Paris, I might have remembered my solution to world peace.

When I spotted Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh making balloons in the square , I thought Amsterdam was revisiting— a random yet delightful sight.

Oh, and about Amsterdam, I tried “real” absinthe there. It’s an experience I won’t repeat; there’s a reason it’s not legal in Canada. A weaker strain is allowed in the USA, but it doesn’t quite compare.

As I sit here, my two-glass wine order has somehow turned into a bottle. Sigh! Now, where was I headed next?