Europe 2014

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, 13-19 June

		So we returned to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where we had spent a week in 2008. After settling into our apartment, we went to look at the River Sorgue flowing around the town. *
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		Dinner that evening under an awning by the water, as night came on. *
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		During our stay, we spent quite some time just wandering around the town, enjoying the streetscapes. *
		The Café de France, where we spent time having coffees and using their wi-fi. *
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		We visited the Collegiate Church on the main square. *
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		Lovely old car parked (illegally) on the main square. *
		One of the water wheels for which L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is noted. *
		And another of them. *
		On Sundays and Thursdays, the town has a market that takes over the whole town centre. †
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		Chickens for children to store their nightwear. *
		Despite its appearance, this shop on one of the main streets was in use. It is now a shoe repair shop. †
		In past visits to Provence, we had driven past St-Remy-de-Provence without ever visiting it. This time we visited, and found a charming town centre. †
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		The cathedral was rebuilt in the mid-1800s after a fire destroyed most of the old church. *
		It had some nice nineteenth-century stained glass. †
		We sat and had coffee in a café on the main square. †
		We liked this "Grand Magasin", with a display of Queen Elizabeth dolls all waving an arm. †
		We looked at Les Baux, but the row of big tourist coaches and the steep climb from parking places persuaded us not to stop. *
		Nearby was the Carrières de Lumières, where images are projected onto the walls of a disused bauxite quarry. Magical. *
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		We went to Tarascon and climbed all over its huge castle. †
		This sign at the entrance shows the castle as it was when in use. †
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		This lavender was growing in a small garden near the entrance to the keep. For a while, we thought it might be the only lavender that we would see. †
		Inside the keep courtyard, with the main staircase. †
		We made it to the top, and this is the view of the town from there. †
		One of the huge (and inefficient) fireplaces. †
		The castle was used to hold prisoners of war, who amused themselves by carving ships on the walls. †

Time to start a new page! Let's go on to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Part 2.