Last day in Carpentras and then on to Estonia!!!

We are now back in Portland and getting used to our new rhythm. Our last day in Carpentras was a school day so JC and I got off to the train station on our own. We had said our farewells the night before and in a way it was a bit easier to do it this way. Both Oscar and Black et White the cat thought our suitcases were good spots to rest. And maybe keep us in Carpentras??

The sky was blue and clear as we waited at the station for the train to take us to the Avignon TGV station. I thought the glass walls with poetry written on them were really creative.

The poem by Lanza del Vasto speaks of the wind and its really a very clever nod to the Mistral. The  poem is from: Le chiffre des choses.

JC called "maman" while we waited

The poster behind him reminded me of some great moments spent in Rome a few years ago in a cafe in Trastevere with our friends Valri and Vince.

This is the train that carried us out of town.

I didn't look back but I sighed quite a lot en route as we rolled through Vaucluse. Wouldn't you???

A bit earlier, JC and I went out for lunch at a little bistro we like in Pernes and when the desert arrived

so did an envelope with tickets to Tallinn inside! JC planned for us to go up to Estonia before our final flight home from Paris. Can you imagine how excited I was???!!!

We got off the TGV in Paris and checked our bags onto Air Baltic heading for Tallinn. Of course our flight was delayed! I've come to expect this now. It almost seems incredible when things happen on time!

I have never been to Estonia in the early fall and it was so pleasant to have some cool air and to put on some layers. We had really good luck with weather. Only one day with some rain and every afternoon was sunny. Can't ask for more!
It is just amazing to see all the new things happening in Tallinn. So many newly renovated buildings and new areas for people to walk and enjoy nature. Wood sculpture in front of the Architecture Museum near the harbor:

The old market(renovation going on) and the new apartments going up behind it.

The area of Kalamaja near the Baltijaam train station has become even more innovative and livable. New paint on many of the old buildings and slowly the warehouses are being transformed into lofts for working and living, restaurants, shops and workplaces.

In one area we visited two years ago, this new wall sculpture was created entirely of recycled pieces of machinery and leftover building materials. All around the square are outdoor cafés, small boutiques and restaurants as well as artist lofts and apartments.

We went up to the old city for lunch...here is looking out of the window onto Pikk Jalg (Long Leg) Street.

And then down onto my plate of a tasty Estonian lunch of sausage, sauerkraut with mustard and horseradish!!

Just yummy with some Saku beer and dark bread! Its nice to be home (as this sign at the Tallinn airport says more or less).

We spent some time strolling through the old city where work is being done to recobble the streets. The new cobblestones are easier on the feet and the entire area is going to look great. Here are some things we saw. I like all the colors on the buildings, even with some gray sky it still pops.

 I could not resist shaking hands with this monk at the Neitsi Tower...he was just darkly silent so I had no effect on him.

We had a cup of coffee on a rooftop terrace and I took theses picture as we sipped delicious coffee.

This very unique sauna building was on display in one of the open areas near the old part of the city. They call it a sauna igloo...what a great idea!

We were able one day to take the bus to Viljandi to see my family there. The bus ride was wonderful and we sat in front right behind the driver and enjoyed the country roads of Estonia. The bus went part of the time on the highway and part of the time through small villages so we got a taste of it all. This road runs through a rural area.

We also had the chance to drive over to Pärnu which is a lovely sea resort city. There is a great market there and I loved the artistic way this vendor displayed her produce. Looked like a piece of artwork.

If you know me well you probably get how absolutely cool it is for me to read signs in Estonian and the words on this little market shop just made me smile. It just means:"meat, sausage, milk, cheese"but I love it!!

In Pärnu there is the Maarja-Magdaleena Guild which is a handwork guild like so many others in Estonia where all of these things have special status. This is the street and the guild house and along the fence are pictures of the many artisans working there as well as what you can see inside. Wonderful!!! and lots of textile work too.

Of course we stopped later for a coffee and some marvelous Estonian pastry (really it is among the best in the world...not just because I'm Estonian)!!

In Pärnu we saw this granny on her bike with the baby stroller next to her...don't need a car and a baby seat here!

More next time!!!

Avignon Luminescences

The Pope's Palace in Avignon puts on a fantastic light show from mid-August through October which takes place in the courtyard of the palace. Its a large space with high walls and open to the sky. The light show tells the history of the palace from its beginnings in 1300's through modern times and it is really pretty spectacular!
We took Maya and went over for the 9 pm show which last about an hour.

We had to wait in line and go through security and once we got into the space we could see how huge it was.

We settled in with a blanket on the ground and waited as it got darker outside. We took this selfie before the show began.

I am not going to tell the story here...you'll have to try and see it for yourselves some day...but I've taken a few photos to share with you.( I hope I'm not in trouble for this...I thought it said no photos but JC said no FLASH photos or videos and other people were taking pictures so...!!!)

This is about war and arrival of the plague:

End of plague and of a royal reign

 New things coming

Founding of the Felibrige and Frédéric Mistral

 Artworks from within the Palace. (You can see the size of this...at the bottom of the red robe there is a silhouette of a spectator.)

 Hommage to the founding of the Avignon theatre festival and Jean Vilar

 The grand finale with the name of the city in "needlepoint."

Since our time in Provence will soon be over JC and I went to the Friday market in Carpentras and took some photos to share. Here is the fountain in the newly refurbished square near the Mairie...all walking area now with no car traffic.

The lavender fields have now been harvested so you can see new lavender in bouquets. Summer clothes are on sale too even though the weather has been very hot still.

This stand in front of the cathedral usually has the "up to date" outfits. Looks like lime green still is around!!

We like to buy cheese in this shop near the Mairie. They also have a great selection of wines and other interesting food items. (The square is reflected in the window)

I loved the design on these sardine cans. The one on the right tells the tale of the sardine which blocked the harbor of Marseille...if you can enlarge it you can get the "rest of the story."

As we pack the suitcase I am thinking back to the great trip we've had this summer and I'm going to add some photos here of things that cross my mind.

This was in June in Cassis...could it already be so far away???

As you know I collect photos of my favorite little automobile...here are two more great colors spotted on the streets of Carpentras.

No stay is complete without a bit of lavender...here at the Abbaye de Senanque.

Enjoying a café in Roussillon!

A view of Venasque in early days of August.

 This poster pretty much sums up the summer for me.

Could this summer already be over???? Kids are going back to school as I write this...it is September first in France!

I'll write some more once we get home but for now its packing and spending the last few days with our family. So I'll say à la prochaine!! Thanks for joining the journey.