21.10 - Day 280 - Cabannes incl Avignon, FRA

Monday 21st October - Cabannes incl Avignon, France (Day 280)

Start of week 2 of Term 4 begins with a 7 am call for Sienna with her teacher and once Seb is up, it’s schoolwork for the morning with Lego distractions - each new accommodation offers options for dens and bases and our house - Loustaudemamet - is no exception especially as it’s a two bed house. 

We pack some lunch and head into Avignon - famous for its bridge apparently even though it’s only half there so we make do just looking at it with our pate baguettes. 

Through the old town walls we head, through the huge main square and into the Palais des Papes / Palace of Popes. Normally this would be a ‘no go’ zone with Sienna and Seb, but I know it has a secret weapon - ipads for each visitor.  

They are instantly won over without even knowing what the tablet does. It is pretty smart though - scan the code in the room you’re in and it brings up an animated reality of what the room would have looked like hundreds of years ago, including cardinals and popes in their chairs. (Avignon was home to 2 or 3 popes back in the 14th century). 

Plus there's a game to find 9 pieces of treasure that has Sienna and Seb charging from room to room. There’s always money where churches and popes are involved and only in 1985 did they find underfloor hidden compartments for the really secret gold stashes. 

It’s a good visit finished with views from one of the turrets. After the extravagances of the palace it’s a more mundane trip to Lidl for groceries on the way home.