In Avignon

I'll catch up with the wedding and our last week in England later but for now we have arrived in France. We took the Eurostar from St Pancras and it was a most relaxing 6 hours through glorious French countryside. The trains are spacious and very comfortable. In Avignon we have a small apartment on the second floor of a building in Rue Campane in the old city a stones throw from the famous Pont d'Avignon. There are at least three artisan bakeries nearby and restaurants and bars galore. Trouble is, they don't open until at least 7:30 - none of your nursery hours here!

At the supermarket everything seems cheap, especially wine. We picke up a lovely Bordeaux for about €4 together with raw milk Brie and lovely ham. I think I could get comfortable here!

The building is ancient and there is an alarming smell in the stair well but the apartment is fresh and bright and ridiculously cheap. The charming Cecile met us and showed us the ropes. The only disadvantage is that there is no lift and 42 stairs to our eyrie. No wonder French women are so thin!

Within half an hour of taking to the streets I was stopped and asked for directions. This always seems to happen to me. It happened in Paris, in Zurich and now here. I don't know if I should be consoled with the knowledge that I must look reliable if not glamorous.

The tv is a struggle - I will probably get my ear in by the end of the trip but you can already enjoy the French take on advertising. Warwick was in stitches over the Fiat ad where the old man comes out of the shower and spots his girlfriend lying provocatively on the bed. Just as he is about to pop a little blue pill, it tumbles out the window and into the open petrol cap of the Fiat 500 being filled at the station below (this is France). It immediately swells up and turns into a sporty SUV and he becomes young and gorgeous much to the approval of the girlfriend.

Somehow, I can't see that one running in Oz. The French are unabashed about sex in advertising.

It's raining and there is a hint of thunder so we'll spend the morning washing and blogging before exploring further. We've already spotted a tour of the Roman sites we want to do and will join a food and wine walking expedition.