Lauterbrunnen - Avignon - Barcelona - French Riviera

Hi guys and gals,

Well, after we left you last time, we headed for the train station and jumped on a train back up to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken (passing a hooters on the way just for the record). After our lovely scenic train ride back up into the valley we returned our bikes and headed for the Trummelbach falls. It was a fair walk, but it was worth every step!! These waterfalls actually run down through the mountain, and you are only able to get in and see them because tracks have been carved out for tourists just like us. The noise inside is incredible, and the power of the waters thundering down is scary!! There is so much spray that you need a raincoat, and this also makes getting photos quite difficult, but we managed to get a few. After we were done there we set off for a refreshing walk back to camp in the pouring rain!!

The next morning we set off for Avignon, once we got there we did a walking tour of the city, which is mostly conveniently located within the ancient walls that had been created to keep the Popes safe from bandits when they were hanging out there. This is when my £4 sandals decided to have a major blowout, sadly they could not be saved, so a replacement had to be purchased from the lovely french lad who let us scoot under his door just as he was shutting up shop for the night!! From there the group went our seperate ways for dinner.... I know its sad that we had McDonalds, but for any of you who remember the movie Pulp Fiction, you will understand why the oppourtunity to order a royal with cheese and a glass of beer was just to good to turn down!!!

After such a healthy dinner we figured we had earnt a beer or 2, so we headed back to the campsite store, picked up a few tinnies and travelled the whole 30 odd paces to the edge of the river to watch the sun go down....so romantic!! The rest of the group joined us on the river bank an hour or so later, and we hung out together until Arnoux and I piked out at around 11pm.... what a pair of old fogies aye!!

We only had one night in Avignon, so the next morning we piled onto the coach and headed for our next stop - Barcelona. Luckily on the way, however, we stopped off at the Pont du Gard. the largest aquaduct ever built by the Romans...very cool!! (Chris, I apologise if this is not historically correct, but this was the information that we were given..... not that I imagine Chris has time to read this.....). From there it was off to Barca, and after a quick city tour in the coach we set off for dinner. The food was good, but the highlight was most certainly the 1 litre servings of Sangria, the local drink. It consists of red wine, vodka, martini, sugar and (I think) fanta..... it was sooooo good, and soooooo easy to drink!!

The next day was a pretty cruisy one, after breakkie we headed for the food markets that Robbie had mentioned were a must see.... and he wasnt wrong!! The place was amazing!! Seafood, meat, veges, fruit, lollies etc etc as far as the eye could see, and every single stall was immaculately presented, I dont know how anyone ever decides which place they are going to buy their stuff from, for every food group you have about 20 options!! From there we just took a stroll down the main strip, La Rambla. There were these really cool characters all along the street dressed up like various things from a pirate, to a fruit lady, to the guy sitting on a toilet....very cool. The stomachs were rumbling so we picked up some lunch and headed down to the marina to eat. When we got there we discovered that there were loads and loads of fish hanging around near the pier...so we thought feeding them would be a good idea. Before we knew it there were literally hundreds of them swarming for every crumb of muffin, and we sat there for a good hour and a half and forgot to save any muffin for ourselves!!!

After a quick tourist stop to take some photos of the Christopher Columbus memorial we headed for the beach. Neither of us were dressed to swim so we just hung out on the sand and watch the world go by. Never had we seen so many guys in man strings, or old, very very large woman who thought it a good idea to get their bits out.... but after all, it is completely legal in Barcelona to be completely nude!!! We think that maybe a few bylaws could be required.....

After a bit of a siesta to sleep of the remains of our sangria hangovers it was off to dinner with Tui and Simon. We had become very fond of tapas while in London, but there really is nothing like Spanish tapas in spain.....YUMMY!!

Yesterday morning we said goodbye to Spain, and hello again to France as we headed for the French Riviera. On the way we stopped at a place that sold really really cheap booze and smokes, so we decided it would be silly not to buy an 11 euro bottle of vodka..... sadly that bottle is no longer with us.... we mourn his loss.... but he was very tasty last night!!! Oh yeah, on the way to the campsite we stopped off for a tour of a perfumery.... Arnoux did not make any purchases, as they did not sell any 'name brands'...... WHAT A PERFUME SNOB!!! HAHAHAHAHA!! As soon as our tents were up it was off to the nearby beach for a pre dinner swim.... it was soooo nice!! Then after dinner and the demise of the vodka, a few of us thought a midnight dip was also in order, I guess you just have to do these things right!!

This morning we were dropped off in Nice to enjoy the magnificent day that the region has turned on for us. Once we are done here it is off to the Chateau for a few touristy photos overlooking the city before retiring to the beach.... its a tough life!! Tonight the casino in Monte Carlo calls......

We hope you are all well :-)

Just in case we dont get back to a computer before wednesday, just a big shout out to Aimee for her 14th birthday...Hope you have a huge and wonderful day dont give mum to much stress... HAPPY BDAY LIL SIS