Last October, after we got a glimpse of the area when we visited Nimes and Les Baux, we knew we wanted to come back. This time we're staying in the Luberon valley, the quiet, bucolic countryside east of Avignon. The Luberon has become a favorite tourist destination due to its picturesque villages and farms, easygoing way of life, and pleasant weather. And probably also through British author Peter Mayle's books chronicling his life as an expatriate settled in the Luberon, one of which in 2006 was made into the film "A Good Year," starring Russell Crowe and filmed in the region.
Dianny’s parents and sister, who're visiting from Colombia, joined us. We took the TGV from the Gare de Lyon, home of the famous belle-epoque restaurant Le Train Bleu.
On the way down, fields and fields of colza (canola). Less than three hours later we arrived at the modern Avignon TGV terminal, which was inaugurated in 2001. The glass-roofed station looks like a long, slightly twisted, upside down boat hull.
We rented a minivan—although there was nothing “mini” about it—and on the way to the hotel stopped at the Pont Julien, a Roman stone arch bridge over the Calavon river dating to 3 BC. Originally, it was built on the Via Domitia, an important Roman road which connected Italy to their Provincia.
As soon as we got to our hotel, a huge, abandoned house that has been given back its splendor, the kids wanted to get in the pool, but the water was too cold so they had to settle for the swings.
