Started the day out with another fine breakfast then pack the bags and car for the trip to Avignon. We said our goodbyes to Mandy and hit the road with Noel at the wheel.
We headed towards Canne and then onto Marseille where we went for a short stroll along the promenade we then drove along taking in the seaside view. The water was so calm, it would have been a perfect day for diving,
We then back tracked and went to Grasse the region where they make perfume. We stopped at one perfumery but I couldn't stay for long as it was making me feel sick. Even Noel said it was giving him a headache.
We stopped at a patisserie and had lunch then we then headed into the Alps to the village of Gourdon, in this area they grow lavender to make the perfume. There is also an old walled village here perched on the top of a hill.
The trip had stunning scenery but the roads where windy. This is a very popular track for the cyclists training for the mountain climb and we saw heaps making the hard slog up the huge mountain. Angelina was most confused and wanted to take us over the alps and no matter which way we went, every 5kms or so she wanted us to turn around. We decided to ignore her and went back the way we came and started the journey to Avignon our own way, Even Karen the other sat nav was confused and couldn't decide on a route.
I think we went the long way as it seemed to take 3 times as long to get back to what appeared to be where we start near marseille even though we thought we where far from it.
Finally on the right track we started to see the signs for Avignon however just as we started to get into the city we hit a huge thunderstorm. Lighting, thunder and hail. Our hotel is within the old walls of the city and even though we couldn't hear the directions Angelina was giving us due to the hail on the car roof we found the hotel.
By this stage the rain was belting down so I jumped out of the car and grabbed 2 umbrellas and we attempted to get the bags out of the car. Luckily my rain coat was also handy. We had been security conscious and had the bags securly Locked together but as it was so dark I couldn't see the lock to put in the code. Ran back into the Hotel and asked for a torch meanwhile Kathy and Richard are getting soaked even with umbrellas. They didn't know what a torch was so I asked for a light and they understood. This torch you had to wind up to make work which is very hard to do holding umbrellas and trying to undo locks and by this stage someone had driven up behind us and started tooting. Richard gave them the bird so they back out of the street and went another way. Finally I get the lock undone and we get the bags inside. We are wet, the bags are wet and the thunder and lightning is still going on. Kathy and I get the room keys as the boys find a car park.
The hotel is very quaint, the building is from the 18th century and recommended to us by my sister whom stayed here last year.
Of course about 15 minutes after all this drama the weather clears. All part on the adventure I suppose.
Today was 4 seasons in one day with a tropical thunderstorm for an added bonus.
Finally in our rooms I change into some dry clothes and we go out for dinner just around the corner. Wonder want tomorrow will bring?
Nice quite night relaxing in front of then TV ready to explore the city tomorrow hopefully with no more storms.
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