On the road for another adventure . . .

Things went fine with our flight. No delays or bad weather. Food was even half good. Only bad part was the seating. There is a Consumer Advocate group in the US that is filing a lawsuit against the airlines because the seats are too close together causing a safety hazard if an EVACUATION IS Warranted. I guess American Airlines must be part of that suit. My seat was so close to the one in front of me my knees were in direct contact the whole flight. Trying to sleep in a comfortable position was IMPOSSIBLE. The next move to save space will have you in a standing position!!!! Like in a cattle pen!! Well . ..  I guess there is always first class with the little ‘pods’. . . . emJay has already moved into her European ‘ooh-la-la’ hairstyle. . . FUN!!!

Once everyone settled in and the lights were dimmed it looks like a spaceship on board . . .

One interesting note is as I was loading up a movie I saw we were traveling 4,165 miles from Chicago to Paris. Almost exactly the mileage I has just ridden on the Northern Tier across the U.S.. . .

. . . but instead of taking three months, it would only take 7 hours!!!!

Things were in chaos at the train station at Charles De Gaulle because, naturally this is France and part of the SNFC was on strike . . . the ticket offices were closed and all tickets were being purchased from machines only. Not too big a deal but of the three available there was only one working. One of the staff still working was constantly trying to get the two broken ones going.  I must say though the staff have ‘snappy’ uniforms!!!!

We would take the TGV high speed train from Paris to Avignon, our home for the night. Travels between 150-200 mph and the ride is as smooth as silk!!!

We are staying the night at the Cloitre de St Louis which is situated in an old Jesuit monastery. NICE!!!!!

. . . a GREAT setting right in the middle of town.

. . . with a VERY nicely appointed room.

Time to eat . . . we considered the kitty restaurant, where there are resident cats that walk around and rub up against your legs while you are eating. But . . . it ended up being a tea room and had closed for the day.

So we went to L’Epicerie, a restaurant the locals frequent that is located right next to one of the best examples of gothic architecture left in Europe. Eglise St Pierre.

The French know how to make salads . . . a meal in itself . . .

. . . but that didn’t stop me from having a nice steak and emJay having a YUMMY lamb shank . . .

. . . all in a picture perfect evening setting . . . right next to the 14th century St. Pierre’s.

. . . and the place was filled, on a Thursday evening!!!!!

. . . as we returned to our hotel,  we found it had turned into an enchanted looking forest . . .

. . . the best thing about this trip already though is spending precious time with my Smoochie after not seeing her for 3 months. Never again will I be gone that long . . . I missed her too much!!!!