🇫🇷 Avignon: Where Drama Meets Chill

Since the airport was in Marseille, I decided to stay in a small southern French town before heading back. Initially, I chose it for the direct China Eastern Airlines flight to Marseille, but I super don’t recommend it—my friend’s recommended Chinese driver said Marseille is the most chaotic city in France, with mafia running rampant and even shootouts or vendettas in the streets. 😱 Avignon is famous for its theater festival �🎭. This town’s tourist services are probably among the best in Southern France—there’s a dedicated visitor center, plenty of brochures, and even curated food recommendations. The iconic Pont d'Avignon (Avignon Bridge) has a full Chinese audio guide with immersive multimedia presentations. The old town center is tiny, but in this weather, the Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) square at its heart is so chill. There’s a carousel that catches kids’ eyes, an amazingly talented old man singing by the ancient walls (I gave him all my spare change from the trip �), a tourist train, and plenty of cafés. ☕ The Pont d'Avignon is another must-see, with incredibly detailed guided tours—one of the few I actually listened to all the way through! Though small, the town is packed with cultural activities. During the theater festival, there are endless plays and performances, plus plenty of museums. I stayed at a hotel right in the old town center and could walk on a whim to the landmark Calvet Museum, which houses vibrant paintings and sculptures. 🖼️ Unexpectedly, I was even convinced by a shop assistant to buy something from the French contemporary brand Gérard Darel—purely because of her elegance! Later, I found out this brand is super famous in France. 👗💫 The food here is great too—I had a customized French meal at Restaurant Acte 2 (though it took 3 hours for 4 courses 😆) and devoured countless croissants (French croissants are next-level compared to the ones back home!). 🥐 I’ve been traveling so much that work, life, and exploration have all blended together—I’m getting more relaxed and spontaneous. I even negotiated a ride to the airport with a non-Chinese driver, something I’d never have dared before! #ExploringEveryCornerOfTheWorld #SlowTravelInSmallTowns #WanderlustGlobeTrotter #Avignon 🇫🇷💖