France Trip Day 5 - March 15

Kenny got up earlier than the rest of us and walked around the walled city and took some pictures. We didn't get to explore it as much as we wanted the night before because it was already dark when we got there. But it was raining the whole morning and pretty cold. We walked around the cathedral inside this walled city in Carcasonne and witnessed some sort of mass where the priest was praying in Latin with his back turned to the people like he was communicating to God for them. It was neat. Then we drove over to our own church and it was so fun having it in French. Can I just say how much I love witnessing church in other countries? No matter where you go in the world there are members of the church learning the same true gospel (even studying the same lessons!). It's just magnificent.

 The city outside the walls. We were quite literally in a "tourist trap" har har ;). I'm so funny.

 We all loved the cemeteries. These huge headstones/shrines erected for each person. Everything was so gaudy.

Lunch at a boulangerie again. I think I ate one of these probably every single day. I love pain au chocolat!!

This was a day of a lot of driving, but it was beautiful. Mile after mile of well-pruned vinyeards and just-blossomed, flowering "popcorn" trees on our way to Avignon. We got to our hotel inside the walled city and went and toured "Le Palais des Papes", the palace of the popes. We didn't want to do many touristy things on Sunday, but visiting cathedrals and churches is pretty good, right? My favorite memory from this place was when we had finished our audio tour and ended up in the grand hall. We each sang notes and listened to the echoes. Kenny did it the best and sounded like a monk singing "Ri-co-la" really slow and monk-like. haha It's hard to explain but it was so funny.

when Kenny used the bathroom he thought it was so funny how it was all modern and white--straight out of Ikea. Then you look up and remember you're in a 500 year old building :).

 This was the grand hall where we did our singing! I've never heard such a good echo.

Then we got dinner and walked home. Dinner is literally a 3 hour event over there in France. Something we're definitely not used to here in our fast-food America. Here the waiters always want to rush people out so they can get more customers in and make more tips! But there it's very hands-off, they hardly even fill up your water they're so absent. :) Also, if you're ever there you have to pretty much demand they bring you your check or you'll just never get it. Kenny had a hard time with the culture change because he really loves talking to anyone and everyone that will listen to him. He is incapable of ordering at a restaurant without discussing it first with the waiters. He likes to ask what they recommend, what's popular, etc. Nobody liked to be asked that over there haha. They thought it was the most ridiculous question. "whatever you like! I don't know what you like!" :) It was funny. Oh and let it be known this was the first night we had separate bedrooms! hahaha. We didn't meant to plan it like that, we thought there would only be one night of sharing a room. but night after night we showed up at these B&B places and everything was connected and just right together. We played some card games (hearts) and then went to bed.