So by the time we got to Orange I was SO ready to get off the bus, since I wasn't being allowed to sleep. But as soon as we got off, I was incredibly ready to get back on, because--surprise!--it was freezing! We stopped at l'Arc du Triomphe (yes, there's more than one "Triumphal Arch" in France) d'Orange, which dates back from the first century, during the reign of Augustus Cesar, the first emporer of Rome. It was beautifully detailed and it's absolutely amazing that it is still standing and is still in such good condition.
After l'Arc, we went to the Roman amphitheater. The theater of Orange is one of only three Roman amphitheater's in the world whose original stage wall is still intact. It was pretty cool, but because they still use it as a theater today, there were lighting tresses and seat numbers and metal railings all over the place, which I felt really took away from the whole feeling of antiquity.
After Orange we hopped back on the bus and headed to Avignon, where we bought tickets for the ancient papal palace and then found a little restaurant, because we were starving. I had some d
elicious steak frites (steak, salad and french fries), but I forgot that here they like their steak bleeding. It wasn't too too red though and I ate all but a few bites, probably because I was ravenous. Then we ate this delicious molten chocolate cake dessert with real French vanilla ice cream. Apparently I had a "love connection" (Monica's words) with the waiter, which was pretty embarrassing actually. Possibly more embarrassing than the time that the creperie waiter thought that I was making googly eyes at him when really I was just trying to get the check. Obviously, Jill has issues with French waiters.
After we gorged ourselves, we headed to the palais du papes, a huge fortress which housed 7 popes during the middle ages (1300s) when the papacy was in Avignon and not Rome. The building is absolutely gorgeous, and the inside has been converted into a museum, which was pretty dull. Monica and I gave up on reading the displays/listening to our audio guides and just walked around, admiring the architecture and the paintings.
Towards the end of the visit, we walked up to the roof, where there was a gorgeous view of the city. It was amazing.
We spent about 2 hours in the palace, and then we walked to the Pont d'Avignon, which was fabulous. For any of you who've taken a French class in your life, you know why this is awesome. When we came to Avignon on my high school trip, we didn't get to go on the bridge, and so had to sing/dance sous le pont d'Avignon instead of sur, which was kind of upsetting. But yesterday we actually got to walk on top of the bridge, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The view of the Rhone was spectacular.
Then we headed to Pont du Gard, this ancient Roman aqeuduct, which was pretty sweet also. After walking on it for a little bit, Anna and I decided to take a path in the woods to a "panorama", but we walked for a while and didn't see anything promising. The sun was starting to set, there was no one else around and there were swarms of bugs, but Anna insisted on trying a little bit more, and sure enouch a few minutes later we found a really safe looking ledge with a pretty sweet view of the aqueduct. Unforunately my camera's batteries died and I was too busy freaking out about Anna's imminent demise (she should NOT have gone so far out) to change them, so I didn't get a good picture of it.
I took a bunch more pictures. Some of them are here.
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