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PROVENCE
TRIP REPORT
September 2005
A week in Provence, in the Fall: what could possibly
be better? Six lucky Rensselaer alums and their spouses, along with
twelve alumni from other colleges and universities, experienced just
such a wonderful week in September of 2005. And everyone had a fabulous
time.
After a very efficient and pleasant transatlantic flight
with Lufthansa, the group assembled in Marseilles for the short (half-hour)
bus ride to our hotel, the Grand Hotel Roi Rene, in Aix-en-Provence.
Aix is really the heart of the storied Provence region of France, and
an absolutely ideal spot to spend a week. Staying in one hotel for the
entire trip meant we only unpacked once, and made for a very relaxing
week.
Each day our deluxe motorcoach took us to a different
spot, each more beautiful than the last. We explored the ancient Roman
town of Arles, with its well-preserved Roman amphitheater, and saw the
hospital where Van Gogh was treated after he cut off his ear; the “Yellow
Café” made famous by his painting. Another day took us
to the exact spot where Cézanne stood for his several paintings
of Mount Sainte Victoire. The spectacular town of Rousillon, looking
for all the world like Sedona, Arizona, was another highlight. So was
the hilltop town of Les Baux, and the fantastic (looking-like-new) 2,000-year-old
Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard. Early in the trip we visited the town
of cassis, on the Mediterranean, where we were greeted by an RPI alum,
Lloyd Bauer ’55, who has an apartment overlooking the harbor in
St. Cyr-sur-mer.
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was the visit to the
Pope’s Palace at Avignon. Did you know that for nearly a hundred
years the Pope resided not in the Vatican but in Avignon? True, and
our guide led us through the Palace on a beautiful, sunny, warm day.
And here’s the photo to prove it! That’s the Pope’s
Palace in the background, across the Rhone river.
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| From left to right are Ellen Counts and Robert
Juenger ‘57; Carolyn and Wolf Ettinger ’49; Sheryl Linden
and Michael Wellner ’64; Paula ’68 and Frank Simon;
Anne & Richard Haas ’58; and Frank ’50 and Judy
Dunning. |
All agreed that a week’s time in Provence was
just too short. Be sure to check the list of tours at the link below
and make plans to join your fellow alumni in an area that interests
you!
Click
here to visit the RAA Worldwide Travel Program page, and get more information
on all the exciting trips planned for the coming year.
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