La Grande Motte – Nimes – Avignon

This was a mammoth day. After packing up we farewelled La Grande Motte and collected the car from Montpellier Airport. With an upgraded car (Not good as it was much bigger and the fuel of DBs annoyance for the ensuing days, as lanes are very narrow and parking impossible). With amazing calm, DB headed off in the car with very few hiccups. He drove us from Montpellier to Nimes. Here we saw La Maison Carree, The Cathedral of Notre Dame & St Castor built in 1096, La Chappel De Jesuites built in 1678, Arenes Amphitheatre built in the 1st century, Church of St Perpetue & Felicitie built in 1852, Tour Magne and Jardins de la Fontaine in the 18th century. All of these sights were amazing. After a very long day we then headed to Avignon to avoid arriving there in the dark. We arrived about 7.30pm to then be informed at the hotel that the Luminescence show at Palais de Papis (The Popes Palace) was something not to be missed. As we weren’t to be in Avignon the next night we quickly got ready to head out. Shows were at 9.15pm and 10.15pm. We were trying to make the 9.15 but with navigation, parking and dining issues we didn’t make it until 10.15pm. The place we were advised to park seemed to be in the seedier side of town, with people just hanging and others collecting their cardboard for the night. We almost aborted the show but instead braved it with scary rice and chicken skewers for dinner and an interesting walk. The Palais de Papais was massive and the light show was amazing, although 45mins standing was a bit too long for our very tired legs. After finding our way back to the parking station and further navigational issues, DB spat the dummy and I think I am sacked PHEW!! Our night was at an end about midnight.

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