Dijon - Avignon

Saturday 13th December

Quite a longish day - a wonderful breakfast with all the produce bought from the markets yesterday. All packed and off we go aiming for Lyon as a stopover on the way to Avignon. Distance proved a little further than planned so off the side roads and on to the motorway and into Lyon.

Lyon a beautiful city at the conjunction of 2 rivers - the Rhone and ??. Only a very short stay - enough for a coffee and a wander around the streets and to be convinced we must come back to spend a few days.

Back onto the motorway and dash down to Avignon. And now the nightmare starts - it is Saturday, the Christmas markets are in full swing and the city centre is closed to cars. Our accomodation is right on the central square of the city, in other words right in the middle of where all the roads are closed. But we manage to convince the police closing the roads that we need to get to out accommodation and they et us through. Driving along Rue de la Republique is like driving down Queen Street mall on the busiest shopping night you can imagine - thousands of people wandering along enjoying the lights, markets, etc. and we are the only car in sight!! After much (and I mean much - Tommy was very confused!!!) driving around in circles we eventually find our accommodation - but regretably, no-one seems to be there to meet us. We phone our landlord in the United States for help. We are guided to the apartment block next door, through security and find Chantal - YEA!! In to the apartment, unpack and hit the streets - wonderful Christmas markets, fabulous atmosphere - we have arrived.