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Originally Posted by Rodstar
Hey Marc, great to hear from you, your local knowledge is much appreciated, and I will take you up on the offer of Pm-ing in the coming months.
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No problem.
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Originally Posted by Rodstar
I am hugely drawn to the Vaucluse area of Provence area, which is why I am planning to spend a large chunk of my holiday there. The main places on my list to visit in that area at the moment include Chateauneuf du Paps, Carpentras, Vaison la Romaine, Gordes (including the Abbaye de Senanque), Menerbes, and St Remy de Provence, as well as Avignon itself. I am also planning to visit Nimes and the Pont du Gard to the west of Avignon. I will keep in mind the Manosque area to the east that you mention, too, so thanks for that suggestion.
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All those destinations are great. There is a freeway now that will take you across from Avignon up to Aix > Pertuis > Manosque > Sisteron / Dignes > Gap then you get deeper into the alps. There are some very interesting rock formations just before les mees on the way past Manosque.
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Originally Posted by Rodstar
I am driving south from Bourges to Avignon through the Drome area, maybe staying around Tournon sur Rhone, I hope the skies will be quite dark on the night I stay in Tournon, I will have a pair of binos with me to look at some of the brighter Northern objects if the sky is clear.
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Andromeda will be right up so is Cassiopea, Cygnus. The milky way is pretty small and pale compared to downunder though.
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Originally Posted by Rodstar
What is it about Marseille that you think is not so good? A few people have said this to me. I am aware it has a lot of migrants from Africa, and is not the happiest place on earth (certainly not compared with Provence etc), but it is part of what is modern France, and it gives me a chance to get to the Mediterranean. Aix is only 25km to the North of Marseilles, so I can do a day trip there comfortably from Marseille, too.
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Marseille is big and polluted. It is a big city. It can be a dangerous place too. If you want to visit go there in daytime go see the old harbour and 'notre dame de la guarde' then stay safe, get out of it and go sleep and stay in Aix-en Provence. Aix is great. There's a massive uni there and loads of english speaking exchange student from the US and all over the world so you'll be right and they can show you around and help.
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Originally Posted by Rodstar
I understand what you mean about the Cote d'Azur. I am not keen to go there on this trip, it sounds overpriced, overdeveloped, and overrun by tourists and faux glamour! Not to mention the crippling traffic!
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If you speak English your cup of mocca or anything else will go from x1 to x4 the price. The 'cote d'azur' is a tourist trap so is Paris. Go in the in the smaller towns 10km out of any major city, say you come from Australia because originally people may think you're from the UK. Then they'll mention the word skippy, open the doors and probably even feed you.
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Originally Posted by Rodstar
If I was to abandon Marseilles, and spend three days at some other Mediterranean location, what would you recommend?
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You can drive through Marseille, drop in at St Tropez quickly, pass Toulon (naval base/industrial) nothing to see there. Go to Cannes/Nice very nice (promenade des anglais). Can push to Monaco, not very far then back via Castellane then Dignes-les Bains (heading North) Back to the Durance Valley then back down to Aix. You ll need 2-3 days. Sleep in Castellane on the way back. Great camping grounds.