Avignon and Two Bridges

Pope's Palace, Avignon.
There have been times in history when the Pope did not live in Rome.

Courtyard inside the Palais des Papes.

View from the battlements at the top of the Palais des Papes ( Popes Palace)

Beautiful ceilings in the cathedral, but the walls had been used as display space for a tasteless clay exhibition. Daubs of mud, not even fired, that looked like kindergarten work.

View of the Pont St Benezet as we walk along the foot of the city walls.

One of our many picnic lunches... an orange (preferably from Valencia) some fresh bread, tomatoes and some french cheese.
This cheese however had its own story to tell.
Only 5 minutes into the day Riccardo is complaining of the smell, which seems to be coming from his back pack. I could see our cheese ending up in a rubbish bin so I took the cheese, wrapped it in another bag and popped it in an outer pocket of my bag.
It wasn't long before I noticed people standing a little further away from me, standing back... not usual in queues here...
The morning was a mix of embarrassment and hilarity over the cheese, which was ripening as the day progressed. Several times I considered dumping it in a bin. Would it really taste ok?

Le rustique cheese is joyously consumed.

The First bridge.. Pont St Benezet.
Made 'famous' by a french nursery rhyme "Sur le Pont d'Avignon".

Everyone wants to walk to the end of the bridge.

Pont d'Avignon with the walled city in the background.

Bridge number Two: Pont du Gard.
This is an ancient Roman aqueduct built to carry water from Uzes to Nimes.
As usual 'ancient Roman' translates as about 2000 years old.

Its no wonder this aqueduct is still standing when you see the size of the blocks and the quality of the workmanship.
Having cooled at least our feet we catch the bus back to Nimes.