Provence here we come!

We left Paris on a sunny Saturday morning. The day before we passed this group of guys on Place de la Nation playing boules. There were so focused. Gave us a preview of Provence!

We took the train from la Gare de Lyon and got there early enough to watch the travelers who were off to various parts of France south for the holidays. This is the stairway to the Train Bleu restaurant in the station which has marvelous murals inside. It is one place to go when you have the chance. It was in the film "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" with a young Maggie Smith.

There seems to be Starbucks almost everywhere nowadays!!! Our train was the one to Marseille at 11:30.

The SNCF(French railway company) poster says it all I think!

They were very friendly and helpful at the station. Elf dressed employees were there to help travelers and guide them to trains and if there was a child in the group they gave them a little traveling bag with crayons, coloring book and other fun items to help pass the time. I was very impressed. They are doing everything to make this rough time go smoothly.

We had a wonderful ride down to Avignon...no stops and in about 2+ hours we stepped out of the train and crossed the platform for the new shuttle train to Carpentras. Smooth, silent, clean and on time.

In twenty minutes we arrived and here was the greeting party! Hooray!!!

This is what is growing in the garden here. Lemons and olives.

The mild temperature is a surprise to everyone here. Of course I have a suitcase of warm things to wear...but I am not complaining!!
It is so nice to walk to get groceries and stuff. En route a house with persimmons ready to be picked.

Here is the view of the store where we buy produce just around the corner.

We even have our own little shopping "cart" to take along. So cute in red don't you think???

Yes, I know the little red stroller guy is cute too. In fact, here is the new high chair for the young prince!

Next time I'll show you some lights and street scenes from Carpentras. They are all decked out for the holidays and its really fun to stroll around.