En Provence...sans bagages!!

We have made it to Provence but not without some issues!

British Airways managed to "forget" to load our three suitcases onto our flight from London to Paris! Here we thought there would be problems in France because of the general strike but everything was running smoothly in France. Even our train was on time leaving CDG for Avignon. The missing part was the luggage. We jumped off the plane and waited at baggage until the carousel stopped...no bags. Made our claim at the help desk and then ran like crazy to the TGV train station. Train arrived we got on and got some bottled water.

This was the most delicious water I have ever tasted by the way!!

En route however, the train began to slow down every once in a while. It turns out there was a brush fire near the tracks in Ventabren near Aix which caused an electrical problem and they were beginning to divert trains from TGV stations to the older regular stations.

We cruised through the countryside

and finally ended up in Avignon Centre station. Since we didn't have luggage to take off the train I had time to look around. I rather liked the red soles of this fellow's shoes!!See my shadow there at the bottom??

The station by the way was packed with travelers transferring to busses from diverted TGV trains.
Here's a poster from one of my favorite stores in Avignon.

Anton picked us up across the street from the station in Avignon and soon we were en route to Carpentras.

Blue sky and a few white puffy clouds.

It has now been two nights and we still have not gotten our bags or any notification of when we might.

When JC calls the number given he is sent to Madrid????? where they tell us our bags have been located and there are "procedures" in process to retrieve them. Hmmm. It makes us both wonder if we ever will travel British Airways again. They have no follow up with us at all even though we have provided all necessary information. The only way we know what is going on is if JC calls and then we are told again of the "procedures."The central British Airways line will only talk to you if your baggage is missing in the mighty UK!!

Two days before leaving Portland we were happily sitting at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Then flying up out of the clouds from Portland we boarded our plane in Seattle for the flight over.

We had enough miles to be in First class and here is what our seating area looked like!

JC celebrated his birthday in the air and you can see we are both content...

we were not expecting the baggage issue as we sipped French wine and had the most delicious hot toffee desert.
When do you think we'll receive our bags??? I'll keep you posted! A bientôt!