Day 2: ARLES - AVIGNON - LES BAUX DE PROVENCE - SAINT TROPEZ - CANNES
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today we started the day with a good buffet breakfast at the Best Western Atrium, our accommodation in Arles. We have a most complete day with visits from Avignon, Saint-Tropez and in between the small town of Les Baux de Provence.
About 9 in the morning and before following the route we have gone through some of the most important streets and places in Arles: the Thermes de Constatin, the Théâtre Antique, ...
In this area everything is already prepared for the festival held in September, so we catch the city from boat to boat.
The first place we approach is to Las Arenas, the famous Roman amphitheater which stands on a small scale at the Colosseum in Rome that we visited last year.
The Sands in Arles
We also take a short tour of some of the Arles places that inspired Vang Gogh to paint his most famous paintings.
Vang Gogh in Arles
About 11 in the morning we set off for AvignonAnother visit we will make on this trip to the Côte d'Azur. When we arrive it seems to us a most normal town, until we reach its walls and cross them.
We parked the car and headed to the Palais du Papas, of which there is only one word to describe it: impressive. Both the narrow street that leads to the square, and the construction itself.
Palais du Papas in Avignon
After a walk around the area, as we go a little bit of time, we decided to go directly to the St. Bénézet de Avignon bridge, another of the most emblematic places in Avignon. From the place where we are we see it perfectly and we can take good photos, so we choose not to upload (you have to pay admission).
Avignon Bridge
We walk for a while through the streets of the walled city of Avignon and we go in search of the car to continue our way.
From here we set course for Les Baux de Provence, considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and after seeing it we understand why they have qualified it that way.
Les Baux de Provence
We park in one of the car parks that are closer to the entrance of the town, about 5 minutes walk from the most central area.
We began to walk around its streets and of course, get lost between the shops and the restaurant menus taking advantage of to find somewhere to eat.
Les Baux de Provence
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In the end after several laps, we stopped at a restaurant, with a patio, which looks good and we were not mistaken. We have charged energy for the rest of the day.
We have not commented that despite being in September, during this day we had an average of 30º !! And say we thought we were going to be cold.
After getting lost for another hour on the streets of Les Baux de Provence we are heading to Saint tropez. Our great friend Garmin, indicates a recommended route, which turns out to be through an impressive mountain pass.
We arrived to Saint tropez and only at the entrance you can breathe a different atmosphere. We park in one of the car parks of the port and begin to feel that “chic atmosphere”By which this French city is known.
Impressive the yachts that we see as we approach the port.
Saint tropez
After walking for a while inside we arrive at what is the port walk in the village and this is where the “luxury”Acquires full meaning.
Completely out of place. We have traveled a lot and consider that we have also seen enough, but we had never seen anything like this.
Exorbitant yachts docked in front of the cafeterias of the Saint Tropez walk, with people sitting in armchairs admiring the landscape.
Saint tropez
The truth is that it has even given us the feeling that this was the paradise of exhibitionism.
Of course, we have taken a seat in the front row in the Paris cafe, where we gladly paid 18 euros for a coke and a pina colada. And so we have spent the rest of the afternoon, seeing the "exhibitionists" from the front row.
Cafeteria in Saint Tropez
After this technical stop and "face", we will visit the rest of Saint Tropez, a much quieter interior area.
We are impressed to see the contrast and how such a small town at first sight can house so much luxury.
After this ride we return to our car, fill the tank (1.42 euros per liter) and set course for Cannes, the place where we will sleep tonight.
Saint tropez He says goodbye to us with a great sunset, which will surely take a long time to forget.
Saint tropez
Garmin Take it with us again and put us back through another mountain pass, with a wild boar crossing included in the middle of the road and slowing down. Then with time we will look to see what happens with these routes that skip the highways and the GPS does not detect them.
It took from Saint Tropez to Cannes an hour more or less and we go to the Oxford Hotel, to which we have been referred for problems in which we had reserved. It is a bit far from the center, but it has good facilities, so we are doing well.
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- 10 essential places to see in Nice
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The truth is that it has even kitchen, but the bathroom is tiny. But to sleep we are worth anything while it is clean and it is.
After leaving our bags we went out to dinner. Being away from the center we have to take the car and we go to one of the La Croissete car parks and there we begin to see that Saint Tropez falls short in terms of chic atmosphere.
Or it has coincided that today Friday night the believe me of the believe me Or is this always the case? We will have to come back another day to find out.
We had dinner at a restaurant / pizzeria, unable to stop looking at the people who are going through, because it really attracts attention.
After dinner we see that it is 11 o'clock at night and now it is time to go to rest and recharge energy to continue with our trip to the Côte d'Azur.
Tomorrow we have another day as complete.
Day 3CANNES - MOUGINS - SAINT PAUL DE VENCE - NICE
