Sur le Pont

La pluie came to Provence late yesterday. There was a sound and light show for much of the night as the thunder bounced off the stones of the old buildings of Lourmarin.

We had saved our wine-tasting trip for a rainy day like today. So while the clouds moved on, we sipped the finest of the Cotes-du-Rhone in the wine museum of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Not usually drinking before lunch, I was feeling no pain after tasting #4.

Lunch proved to be our first French eating disappointment. The pizza reine tasted like Chef Boy-ar-dee and the croque monsieur was in bad need of a George Foreman grill.

As the sun started to peak out, we reached Avignon. Our afternoon walking tour included a small private museum with a few original impressionist paintings, numerous shops for clothing and sweets, the only synagogue in Avignon, and of course the famous bridge which ends mid-river.

This is marzipan of every variety possible!

Fashion knows no limit in France. Everything is displayed so beautifully.

This is the rabbi of the synagogue, who gave us a tour. His office is in the 12th century part of the building. The lighted part over his head is an old matzoh oven, which is no longer in use.

A parting view of Avignon from the famous bridge.