Palace of the Popes

There is a large theater arts festival happening in Avignon during most of July.  Consequently, there are more people in town than there would be otherwise.  But for us, comparing it with Paris, it still didn't seem bad.  

Groups of twenty or so performers wonder through town, apparently to stir up interest (or they need something to do while waiting for their next performance).  A jazz combo was playing in one of the town squares, while nearby, another trio was performing using empty gas cans that had been painted white.

We visited the famous half bridge.  It was first built in the 1300s, but kept getting washed away after each rebuild.  The people finally gave up rebuilding it.  This is how it has looked for a very long time.

It is a bit eerie to stand at the end of it in the middle of the Rhone River and look down.

The Pope's Palace was interesting.  Several centuries ago, one of the popes got his knickers in a twist and decided to move the whole lot to Avignon, where they stayed for the next 100 years, and ten popes.  The first one started the palace, and it was completed in 20 years.  But every pope after added their own touch, expanding it to quite a large place.  

In the afternoon, the cicadas are singing their song.  We found the shell of a couple of them in Cheryl's yard.

On the trip to St. Remy, we came across fields of sunflowers.