Vaison-la-Romaine

Today I visited the most picturesque little town that ever walked the earth: Vaison-la-Romaine. I went along with the art/architecture class, which was nice because I wasn't obligated to listen to the prof the whole time, and I could just sort of look around at everything knowing I wasn't going to be tested on it. But we started off at 9 in the morning at the Avignon bus station, and we had to drive about an hour northeast to reach Vaison. As soon as we got there we climbed up through the oldest part of the town to a rocky cliff that had an ancient chateau at the top. After a little lesson on the history of the town, we headed down into the town itself, went on a bridge over the tiniest river ever, and towards the excavated Roman ruins at the heart of town. We spent the rest of the morning here, as they were pretty extensive, and I must admit I had been following the prof's lecture up to this point but he had a very quiet, sort of lull-you-to-sleep voice that couldn't hold my attention. Plus he was one of those teachers who can literally talk for an hour about one tiny detail. So some friends and I explored the ruins mostly on our own and took some pictures.

But soon it was past noon, everyone was hungry, tired, grouchy, and a little sunburned, and he kept just droning on and on and on and on...then finally gave us and hour and a half for lunch. Some of the girls and I plopped down in a nearby cafe that was offering a set 3-course menu for 12 euro (appetizer, entree, and dessert). So I had a salad with some sort of souffle which basically was a seafood muffin (oddly enough not that bad, but I was also starving at the time), lamb, and some sort of delicious caramel-apple type tart. Good choices, and some of the nicest waiters around.

Then we met up with the rest of the group to have a look at the museum of Roman artifacts. Would have made a very interesting 45 minute walk-through. It wasn't very big. But Monsieur le Professeur seemed to want to give a 10 minute (at least) lecture on every single item. Eventually myself and some of the other students (the ones who weren't in his class but just along for the ride, like me) just gave up and sat down on a bench. It had been a long day in the heat and we just wanted to nap. Some of us nodded off right there. But after what seemed like an eternity it was 5pm and we were on the bus headed back to Avignon. This bus is best described as the perfect imitation of the sauna room in an old Roman bath house. That is how much we were sweating on the sweltering, hour long, non air conditioned ride home.

But we arrived in one piece, if not a little soggy. I made the 20 minute walk home and promptly jumped in the shower at an attempt to feel human again. It worked, and soon after was dinner. A little abbreviated tonight, as Corine was meeting a friend to catch a movie--Avatar. I found this funny. But it was a quick dinner tonight, after which I took a little nap. And now here I am.

Tomorrow will be another excursion (to Camargue), but one whose purpose is more for fun and less for lecturing. I mean, we even get to go to the beach! I can continue to work on my pitiful excuse of a tan. I did get a little sun today though...so it's a start.

Love to you all,
Natalie