Our trip so far....

Wednesday is a free day for us to go our own ways - so this is a good opportunity to let you read some of comments from our group.

Martha - Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Kathy - Provence, wonderful, especially with a group of fantastic women!

Pat - Absolutely fabulous

Diana - what a great group you all are - so pleased to meet all of you.

Lindsay - good food, terrific wine! wonderful women! what a fantastic experience!

Tricia - EAT this wonderful food, PRAY this will not end LOVE these great women

Liz - never thought it would be this much Fun!!

Leslie - it couldn't be better!

Aileen - What a wonderful hostess, a great group of women, fantastic weather, food. What more could we ask. Tres bien!

Judy - it's all been said. Having a great time once again with lovely company.

Marie - Quel merveilleux voyage! Great country, great food and wine, friendly people and lots of shopping so far and more to come.

Jeanne - we are having a great time - good wines and terrific food - the tour is very well organized,

Marion - super, super time - love the tours, the shopping - most of all the great girls I have met. Can't wait for Paris!!

Monday dinner - assorted selection of regional pates with sweet wine and onion marmelade, salmon steak and warm chocolate cake and custard. With wines, of course. Luckily we're are so busy during the day, we can walk off the great dinners we're enjoying.

Tuesday morning - on to Arles - a town about 45 minutes from Avignon which is famous for the best preserved Roman monuments in France - the ampitheature - Les Arenes - where bullfights carry on the ancient Roman Games tradition. Luckily - we didn't have to experience this firsthand. Walking through this town - also famous as the home of Van Gogh for a period of time, where he painted his "Starry Nights" and "Cafe de la Nuit". It was interesting to be able to take a photo of his painting mounted right beside the cafe and garden. Photos to follow.

We also toured the Romanesque church and cloisters - it is heartening to see the care that is being taken to restore these ancient buildings to their former glory.

Tuesday Dinner - local cheeses with a seared beefsteak and pepper sauce, following by a pot of honey, almonds and ice cream. We were all given pots to take home for a souvenir. Lots of laughter tonight at dinner - who knew these nice refined ladies could tell such risque jokes!

In the Palais Des Papes, Avignon

After a wonderful morning on the famous Pont d'Avignon, this afternoon we toured through the Palais Des Papes - the palace of the Avignon Popes. Building started in 1335 and continued through several popes during the 14th Century until after 100 years, the Papacy returned to Rome. We were able to see the Pope's bedroom and study - still with much of the decoration intact. During the French revolution, it was even used as a military barracks. Since the last century restoration has been ongoing and we are able to once again appreciate the splendor of this magnificent palace. Our tour ended with a wine tasting in the cellar of the palace, with a wonderful Cote du Rhone and of course, Chateauneuf du Pape. One of the popes - Jean XXII built a summer palace across the Rhone - it is this region where Chateauneuf du Pape comes from.