In the sun at last

The "Swiss" weather was relentless. On the morning of 14 August we woke up to the second day of rain. The decision was made: enough of the mountains (min 6° and max 10°). But where to go? I have an idea. I phone the IBIS Hotel in Orange Centre (I always keep the contacts of the main hotel chains in the car). There are two free double rooms for 4 days. We and our friends leave French-speaking Switzerland and head for, we hope, sunny Provence. We have better luck for the first few days. The sky is "deep blue" and the air is fresh, and on top of that the IBIS costs 69 euros a night while in CH we were spending, at the exchange rate, 105 euros. Beautiful Orange with its Roman Amphitheatre, very beautiful Avignon with its famous bridge and the Palace of the Popes, which we gladly revisited after 20 years.

Excellent food: aioli, mussels, pâté of every kind (I'm the only one in the group who appreciates it, to my great regret), quiches lorraine, croissants and all the pastries. And what can I say about the people of Orange. Welcoming, smiling, always helpful. In short, southern folk like us. The last few days it rained and today we're home!!!