I always wanted to visit the Provence: eat good food, take in the cultural sights and go out in the countryside.
Back in November, I noticed a good Black Friday J deal flying BOS-CDG-MRS with AF ($2K). Little did I know that in fact CDG-MRS was 100% Y (not even the fake "EU business") and that it took me pretty much the whole day to get from CDG to Avignon via MRS.

Let's start with the arrival logistics:

After arrival in MRS around 2 PM, I had to take a shuttle bus to a small train station in the middle of nowhere. Although the display told travelers that buses would depart every 15 minutes or so, it didn't happen. We were waiting for 45 minutes. By then, there already was a long line and the bus was basically "stormed" when it arrived.
After a 15 minutes drive through...some industrial-looking area, we arrived at a tiny train station in the middle of nowhere. The display announced a train to Avignon would depart in 15 minutes. Great! Until no train appeared.... So we stood there in the boiling sun, waiting for "something" to show up. When a train finally showed up, nobody knew where it would go. I got on anyway and asked in my high school french: Pardon, Ce Train va a Avignon? People nodded and I assumed that meant "yes".
Well, after sitting in the train for a bit over an hour, I indeed did arrive at Avignon Centre from where I took a cab for the short ride to my hotel. Finally!

Moral of the Story: NEVER EVER FLY to MRS if you need to be in Avignon. In fact, if you choose AF, fly to XZN. That is: book a flight+train itinerary on AirFrance that connects from your intercontinental flight at CDG to the TGV to Avignon. Much easier, and you even be seated in first class in the TGV.

The next day I decided to check out the sights of Avignon and visited "Le Pont", Palais du Pape, and walked part ways around the city walls.
Apart from the sights, it turns out Avignon has an excellent dining scene. Most evenings I just wandered into the side streets from the main square (Place du Horloge) and encountered cute little tree-lined squares surrounded by restaurants. Food was absolutely fabulous. I don't have any pics to share of that, you just have to believe me on my word.

The next day I went on a sightseeing tour of the lavender fields. There is not really much to say about it other than that this is your typical "get-in-the-van, get-out-the-van" tour. However, the weather was absolutely gorgeous and the Provence wonderful:

For the third day I had booked a canoe trip on the Gardon, passing under the Pont Du Gard. Since I had not rented a car, I had agreed with the canoe outfitter (in Collias) to pick me up at the bus stop "Ronde Du Pont Du Gard" near the Pont Du Gard museum. This involved taking bus A15 from the "Pole D'Echanges Multimodal" in Avignon (aka bus station) to the roundabout.




Unfortunately, the bus was delayed due to an entire school class getting on, and I had to call the outfitter when I arrived at the roundabout to pick me up (bring a cellphone that works in France!).
At the departure point in Collias, I was given a 1-person canoe and brief instructions how to get the the pickup point past the Pont Du Gard. The Gardon is a very tranquil river with not many rapids. The only thing is to pay attention to depth. Sometimes it can be too shallow to canoe and you get stuck which happened to me twice. At that point, you just get out of the canoe and drag it to deeper waters. No big deal. If you need help, there are plenty of other people around you.

The start near Collias:





Taking a break:



Nearing the Pont Du Gard:

The fifth and final day in Avignon I decided to take the passenger ferry across the river from Avignon to Barthelasse Island and go biking for an afternoon. The weather started out alright, but halfway the afternoon I got caught in a nasty rainstorm. I had to take shelter under a tree until the worst was over. That worked out OK, but I still decided to call it a day and return my bike to the camping I had rented it from. Nevertheless, the farming community on Barthelasse was very scenic and beautiful. Definitely recommended for a couple hours biking.

Beautiful! Definitely a time I like also to experience in Provence

Looks like you got to enjoy a great French summer, BOSTravels.

Thanks. The weather was great, although I got a nasty partial sunburn from the canoe trip due to the fact I forgot to apply sun-cream at every conceivable body part.

I always wanted to visit the lavender fields. With my father driving we skipped Avignon, the lavender fields. He was completely disorganized. Your report makes me want to return to see what we missed.