This time last year, I was living in southern France, enjoying endless blue skies, delicious French cuisine and wine en masse. Being on an exchange semester in Avignon, I learned one of the most important lessons so far: how to appreciate and enjoy life à la manière française.
Staying in a rustic but typical French house with 4 crazy French students, I was so close to the French culture I could breathe it. My days consisted mainly of lectures at the university that used to be a hospital for the mentally ill – how ironic – then shopping for ingredients at the local market hall Les Halles, followed by a cidre during happy hour at Place Pie to refresh my throat from all the French talking. And all of that in a relaxed manner because time is of no importance.
Avignon is comparably small, but still incredibly charming with its tiny narrow streets that are in the shadow even though the sun is pumping all its shine into the city. The most impressive place in Avignon is without a doubt Le Palais des Papes, an inspiring huge building that hosted popes for about 100 years during the middle ages. The gardens around Le Palais invite families during weekends, and the spacious open area in front of it is a hangout for les jeunes d’Avignon. Watching the sun set over the mountains with a bottle of white wine and great company gave me the feel of an inner peace I have never felt before, and in that particular moment time really stood still.
I have to admit that besides enjoying life, there is not much else to do in Avignon. But then again, what else could you wish for? When I wasn’t meeting friends for a café crème at Place de l’horloge, we either went shopping in the city’s numerous small shops, or got our taste buds some exercise. My absolute favourite is a small bistro called “Chez Ginette et Marcel” that not only has the most delicious tartines and homemade pastries, but the staff and the bistro itself are left in the 1960’s. It’s simply wonderful.
If I at some point felt that I really needed a break from Avignon, I hopped on the ferry boat that connects Avignon with the Isle de la Barthelasse. Relaxing in the sun, looking at Avignon instead of being in Avignon, and having a picnic in a field of blooming cherry trees, life simply couldn’t be any better. Well, perhaps one thing does need improvement: ice cream is way too expensive there. Tant pis.
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