Avignon, Nice & Monaco!

We got on the road early this morning, with our first stop at Avignon.  The sun finally came out as we toured the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) where seven Popes served during the 14th and 15th centuries. The palace was incredible, and we even climbed to the top of the wall for a panoramic view of the city and river below.

Once we finished our tour, we wandered the streets of Avignon. Kate, Liz, Daro, Corey, Spencer and I went our own way, stopping first to grab some sandwiches. I had goat cheese, brie and tomato on a toasted baguette. Have I mentioned that I love France? We explored the city, eventually making it down  to the river and the Pont Saint-Bénezet, a bridge constructed in the 12th century. It was incredible. The weather was so warm, and we even saw scullers practicing on the river!

After that, we spent more time on the bus, finally arriving in Nice in the late afternoon. Though it was raining too hard for a tour of the city, we did get a chance to see some of the sights by bus. The view was incredible, and Nice is definitely a place I would like to spend more time exploring! Our first stop was Les confiseries Florian. Free chocolate + a tour of how it’s made = a great time for all! We left with bags full of French sweets. We then  went to dinner in the heart of Nice. On the way we passed all of the decorations for Carnival. Dinner was great – salad and ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese, and apple pie for dessert.

We then checked into the hotel, and a smaller group of us got back onto the bus for a night tour of Monaco. Despite the rain, it was well worth the trip. Jesus gave us a guided tour and history of this small principality. It is the second smallest country in the world, after Vatican City. The view looking out into the Mediterranean Sea was incredible. When we finished up, we snuck into a small pizzeria for crepes, coffee and hot chocolate.

It was an incredible day. Tomorrow we are off to Italy!