DanM

1. Are the resturants relaxed enough to take a 6 yr-old and 16 month old into for lunch or dinner? Not the really nice resturants, but still those with good food. We have not had problems with doing so in other portions of the French countryside, but I wanted to make sure.

2. Where do I look for information on bullfights? It does not look like there will be any in Arles while we will be there (July 14-21), but what about other cities/towns.

3. Can you and would you want to swin in the river at Pont du Gard and in Avignon? It seems thatI have seen pictures of people swimming at each.

4. Where would I go to buy the 50 euro painting from a street vendor?

Thanks,
Dan

Underhill

Most restaurants in France are kid-friendly, as French children are used to dining out with parents and know how to behave. Also, we have noticed that French children are quite interested in their food and open to trying new things. So you should do just fine.

Check for bullfights in Nîmes.

We've seen people happily swimming in the river at the Pont du Gard but not in Avignon. The Rhône is fairly fast, and I don't know of an area near Avignon that would be safe, but others might.

What 50-euro painting? Anything in particular? You will see paintings to sale in many Provençal towns, especially at the Cours de Saléya in Nice.

AnselmAdorne

Dan, the village of Lourmarin has a number of galleries you might look at. We bought a print several years ago at Gallerie d'Art Jacquelin Bricard. Her shop is in Place d'Église and she specializes in what I would desribe as primatives.

Here's the site: www.galeriebricard.com

Have a good trip.

Anselm

AnselmAdorne

sigh ... that would be "describe ..."

What we need is an edit feature!!

Anselm

DanM

Thanks for the quick replies. I agree, it would be nice to have an edit option.

As for the paintings, I am not sure what I want but would know it if I saw it. I think probably some type of landscape to remind me of our trip. Just a little something to remind us of our trip to go on the wall of our breakfast room. We have bought such paintings in Paris and Normandy.

Just to clarify, our kids do well when we take them out here. They can make it through a long meal and enjoy the time to visit and be silly without being obvious or obnoxious/loud about it. They are kids, but know how to behave becuase we take them with us here and expect them to behave accordingly.

As an aside, we will be returing to Paris. The one place my son wants to reurn to, the only place he mentions, is the Louvre. Why? Well, as he says, "We have not seen all of it." Strange and wonderful at the saem time.

Patrick

"What we need is an edit feature!!"

You mean like the edit feature given us by clicking underneath the "post a reply" box where it says, "preview my reply" and then you can edit it? Yes, that's a good idea!

Underhill

No, an edit feature like the one on the bonjourparis.com web site that allows you to go back in AFTER your post is up and make corrections. It's a lifesaver for me.

Paintings: I bought two lovely watercolors in Nice that I just brought back from being framed and love them very much. I chose them from a large bin outside a shop near the Cours Saléya. Another excellent place to look for pictures if old Mougins, as well as St-Paul-de-Vence.

4totravel

When you're in Paris check out Dragon Elysees - it is a chinese restaurant (off the Champs Elysees...sorry I forget the name of it) that is great to bring kids to (perhaps you've alrady been) - the entire floor is a fish tank - they will love it! The food is a nice change too.

4totravel

The town of Fontveille has bullfights - very small arena - great for the kids to see everything. Not fights to the death mind you - more of a tease and the bull chases the young matadors while they try to outrun the bulls. Our kids (ages 5 and 7)loved it last year.
We loved it because it was
a) at night
b) small arena
c) we could get up close and personal with the matadors and bulls (especially when one ran into the stands - I think it is part of the act)
d) it was only 5 Euro and free for the kids
e) it didn't take all day - a great nighttime activity
f) and it gave us a taste of a part of a culture we would never see here in the states
We went on a Tuesday night - I believe - they must do it other nights too beacuse it is conjunction with a local matador school. Check with the local tourist office or Fontveille might have its own website - not sure.

RobynFrance

Through the years I have bought several lovely paintings in the $100-$200 range --both at the market in Nice and in art festivals--smaller paintings are of course less--St. Remy has a wonderful arts and crafts festival--don't know the dates but have bought both a beautiful oil painting of a lavender scene and some jewelry. I had the painting framed in the traditional linen lined gold leaf frame and it always garners compliments--looks like far more than the $150 or so I paid for it.

cigalechanta

Hi Robin, I have been twice to the Fetes De Peintres in St Remy. It's always on a Sunday to start. I didn't buy a painting, but each year the lovely posters(at the P.O. ) that I have framed. One year, 2002 it's Sunday the 8th of sept, and oct the 6th and in 2003 it was sunday the 7th and oct the 5th.

DanM

Thanks for the great replies.

Underhill

Here's a link for information on the charming town of Fontvielle. Daudet's famous mill is just on the outskirts.