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Our cycling trip around southern Europe has finally begun. On Monday we took the thalys (fast train) from Antwerp to Paris and a TGV train from there to Avignon. Only problem was in Paris we had to take the metro between the two train stations. You have to disassemble your bike and put it in a bag to take it on the train, and then with the weight from our luggage as well the cycle bags felt like the weighed a ton.
Lugging it all between stations and on and off the trains was horrible but luckily in Avignon they had baggage trolleys so we borrowed one to cart everything from the station to our hotel which was two kilometers away. Then we had to take the trolley back but by this time Sira was starting to get a blister on her foot from wearing new shoes in, hence the photo with Sira sitting in the cart.
In the morning after stuffing ourselves with croissants and baguettes at the buffet breakfast we reassembled our bikes, left the rest of or bags at the hotel, and cycled into the town center of Avignon. We went to a food market, Place Pie, in the city center with all kinds of fresh produce, cheeses and wines.
Then we went to 'Le Palais des Papes,' or the palace of popes, a palace built by popes who fled to Avignon when leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century. Then we biked a bit further to take a look at Le Pont D'Avignon, a ruined bridge crossing the river Rhone built in the Middle Ages, before heading back to the hotel to collect our bags and begin our journey.
The first day we cycled to Mallemort, a little town about 40 km East of Avignon. There we found a camping ground a few kilometers out of the town. This was the first time we had cycled carrying the full weight on a bikes and all an all it went pretty easy even in 35 degree heat.
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Paul Teuwens Hi Jason,I wish you all the luck and have a great time you both.Greatings from Paul, your former colleague at Mouterij Dingemans(The Canada-fan)...