ur first stop in France was at St Rémy. We spent two nights there after picking up our rental cars in Avignon and before going on to Cesseras.

We returned to St Rémy. Thom, Lori, Peg & Cliff stayed two more nights before returning Paris and the US. Doris and Jerry stayed three and then continued their trip via Lyon and Paris.

On both occasions we stayed at the Hotel Canto Cigalo. We want to thank Herb and Joyce Johnson for recommending this hotel. It is really a great find.

First, it is inexpensive - about $45 a night - yes that is for a room not per person. The rooms are nice, of good size and have in suite bathrooms. It is quiet on the back side of the hotel and on the front except in the morning when the local rooster announces the sunrise. The garden provides a wonderful place to sit and sip a glass of wine in the afternoon or to take breakfast outside. The staff is outstanding (Alexandria and Dominque) look after there guests with exceptional care. We left Canto Cigalo feeling as though we had made new friends.

Second, St Rémy de Provence is an ideal location if you plan to explore Provence. It is perfectly situated for day visits to Arles and the Camargue, Gordes and the Lubéron, Avignon, Nîmes and the Pont du Gard, Aix en Provence and the Mountain Sainte Victoire, L'Isle sur la Sorgue and the Fountain of Vaucluse. The ruins of Gallum are on the outskirts of town and the ancient walled city of Le Baux is about 6 miles away.

Third, the town itself has charm, interesting shops and good restaurants.

See the Canto Cigalo web site. (Good photos, room rates and more info.)

OUR FIRST VISIT

Thursday, April 18, 2002 - We all arrive at Avignon by train and picked up rental cars for the trip. We arrived at Canto Cigalo at about 5:30 in the afternoon. Peg, Cliff, Lori and Thom had traveled all the way from San Francisco so they all looked a bit spacy. Doris and I insisted they stay up until a somewhat reasonable hour so as to avoid jet lag tomorrow. We checked in and asked for a bottle of wine in the courtyard. The hotel staff produced a bottle of Domaine Daleran. It was excellent.

We then walked into town - about a third of a mile. We were early for dinner by French standards, but this group needed to be fed and given something to do to stay awake. A brief walk around town and the dinner at the Bistrot Apliles. (€ 176.20 for six) It was quite good.

The Group and Canto Cigalo Staff Alexandria, Peg, Cliff, Jerry,Doris, Dominque, Thom, Lori

Friday, April 19th, 2002 - The hotel provided a great breakfast of rolls, coffee and juice - hot chocolate for Doris. Then we are off on our first exploration. We take a circular route to look at the country side, have lunch in Aix and then come back through Le Baux. Dinner at La Reine Jeanne in St Rémy. (€ 184.00) Good as well.

We have provided pages for both Aix and Les Baux.

SECOND VISIT

Saturday, April 27, 2002 - We arrive back in St Rémy from Cesseras. Thom, Lori, Cliff and Peg have to leave on Monday. Doris and Jerry will stay another day. We have dinner at Le Source in St Rémy. (€ 215.00) Le Source is an outstanding restaurant. We have a great dinner. This was another recommendation from Herb and Joyce Johnson. You will note that prices in St Rémy are a bit higher than they were in Languedoc - we are in more of a tourist area.

Sunday, April 28, 2002 - We go for a drive and visit L'Isle sur la Sorgue for the mother of all garage sales. See the page for L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Dinner at the Le Roma in St Rémy. (€ 135.00) Another recommendation from Herb and Joyce. Less expensive but very good Italian food.

Monday, April 29, 2002 - Peg, Cliff, Lori and Thom are off to Avignon and on to Paris by train. They explore Avignon a bit and then find a hotel (Bleu Marine) at CDG Airport in Paris. They report an excellent value there and found it handy for their flight on Tuesday. Doris and Jerry head for Les Baux.

Dinner Monday night for Doris and Jerry at Le Jardin de Frederic. Very nice intimate restaurant with excellent food. Dinner with wine and dessert cost € 94.30 for two making it the most expensive meal thus far. It was good, but not the best. I like Le Source in St Rémy better and of course the Relais Cantovent in Minerve still holds the blue ribbon.

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