Visitors

I arrived back from Annecy, at Nimes station, and there I waited for my friend Rosie who was flying from Liverpool to Nimes to stay with me for four days (until Mum, Dad and Kate arrived). We hit up a cafe by the arena/ colosseum in Nimes (Nimes is often called the little Rome of France) and started catching up with hot chocolate. Later we got the train back from Nimes, the bus back from Avignon, and arrived back in Apt at 7.40 in time for tea. 

On Tuesday the weather dawned grey and grisly. We wandered through the farmers market in Apt, and then through the town, a steady wandering that took us to Chez Sylla, just in time for lunch. I've talked about Chez Sylla before- Becca and I went just before Christmas- and the second time did not disappoint. Chez Sylla is the wine cave where you can have a cheese tasting plate, a meat tasting plate, with a big salad, selection of breads, dessert, coffee and not one, not two, but three glasses of wine (all for 12euros). This leisurely lunch took some time, which was fine because clouds were threatening outside, and the more wine we had, the less walking we felt like down. Fortunately it is a bit of a hike back to the other end of town where I live, which sorted our heads out, and we crashed out on the bed, in a food/ wine/ tired coma. 

On Wednesday we started the day in Avignon, and took the bus to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue which is a little village, set on the place where five parts of the river meet, which makes it quite pretty to look at, and walk round. We stopped for a salad lunch by the riverside and then meandered on to Fountaine de Vaucluse, the village where the river's source is, and has beautiful views of the cliffside, and the river. By the time we had got the bus back to Apt, we were sporting some good 'bronzage' and half asleep.

Thursday was our last day together, and promised 24 degrees, so again, we spent the morning meandering, breakfasting, second-breakfasting, and drinking coffee. After lunch, we sunbathed, in the school gardens and then took the last bus back to Nimes. Because Rosies flight home was at 10.05am, the earliest bus from Apt wouldn't get us there in time, we booked a hotel for the night near the station. On Thursday night, we got ready and went out into Nimes for crepes (Rosie was going for the all round French experience) and wine in a bar. 

The three days we had together were all lovely, and again, it just makes me very grateful for the people that have come out to see me this year, it makes the whole experience infinitely better, to have things to look forward to and to show people around Apt. With it being so near the end, I have a collection of happy memories and photos of all my visitors this year, and can't quite say how much it has meant to have had them there with me.