First off sorry to all about the pictures. Time seems to stand still here - much like the internet connection. There are hundreds to upload but the internet connection here has been so spotty and slow that uploading pictures seems almost impossible. Hopefully there will be a faster internet connection in Nice.
So in Avignon, we rented a car. I decided to rent something that I wouldn't be able to afford (or too cheap to buy) in my normal ho-hum life in Calgary. For an extra $50 CDN I upgraded from a Citroen C5 to a "Mercedes C-Class or similar". The last caveat of "or similar" is significant since when I went to pick up the car from Avis at the Avignon TGV station, I noticed there were no Mercedes in the parking lot. Can't complain though since I still managed to get a BMW X1. Overall a good vehicle but am disappointed in the power (143 hp). My old Mazda3 was more fun to drive IMO. I think that this is about as big a vehicle as I'd want here with all the roads being so narrow.
In the last week, we've went to Pond Du Gard (truly outstanding btw) and some disappointing ones for me personally (Theatre Antique d'Orange, Les Chateau des Baux). But along the way, I've been taking some really neat roads top get to our destination courtesy of our GPS. BTW - don't drive here without one. I swear it saved our life.
The drive has often been the best part for me. Going through vineyard country, winding roads, tree tunnels, rundown castles, sunflower patches, and lavender fields has been quite a sight. And since the roads are so narrow with no shoulders and barely wide enough for two cars, you are so close to the side it feels like, as Siew puts it, "taking a hike with a car" which hit the nail on the head.
