Our Sunday: Markets, Mass & Museums

Our Sunday began with an enchanting stroll through the seemingly abandoned streets of Avignon.

We're having a going away/welcome dinner fête on Monday night so we headed back to Les Halles for unique and tasty supplies. Annie and Bob return to the States while Ian and Eileen arrive from the UK. The party never stops!

While Annie is the only one raised Catholic, we all decided it was important to attend mass at the Cathedral. This guy, adorned in pseudo-religious garb, was posing for photos. We wanted the real thing.

I loved this from the program, "You who love life, oh you who want happiness, Respond as a faithful worker of His very sweet will. Respond as a faithful worker of the Gospel and its Peace." We were a group who love life and want happiness. It was like they were talking to us!

This video of the priest and his crew coming in is amazing. Listen to the organ!

We all agreed that the gentleman sitting behind us was worth attending mass. I had to videotape his voice while he sang, "Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!" WOW.

Lunch was back at Rocher des Doms for another delightful meal. We also enjoyed discovering more of the vintage photos exhibited from previous Festivals d'Avignon. I love this one of the founder, Jean Vilar.

It was hysterical watching these two guys recreating another Festival image. What a crack up.

Annie and I did our own instagram poses. Oh man, what fun.

This might be my favorite photo of the day!

Our final stop was one we both really wanted to see... Le Musée Lapidaire.

Also known as the Antiquities Gallery of the Calvet Museum, this free and incredible musem houses Greek, Roman, Gallo-Roman and Paleo Christian collections. The old chapel of the Jesuit College (XVIIth century), an example of the Baroque architecture, is interesting enough to visit even without the fantastic artifacts within.

There is a spectacular compilation of ancient Corinthian and Italic vases and numerous objects from daily life such as funeral furniture, glassware, jewelry, and bronze figurines.

The whole collection is a historical and artistic treasure, established in 1810 by a legacy from Esprit Calvet, acquisitions and gifts from the State, as well as objects found in archeological excavations in Vaison-la-Romaine and some ancient European collections.

Esprit Calvet is worth knowing more about. He came from a long established family in Avignon and was educated at the Jesuit college in the town (this building perhaps?). He studied medicine at the university in Avignon, in Montpellier and then in Paris. He returned to Avignon and became the first Professor of Medicine at the university. He eventually became the chief doctor of the Hôpitaux Sainte-Marte.

In his last will, Calvet donated his cabinet of curiosities, his library and a few pictures to the town of Avignon. The donation was accepted by Napoleon I. What a guy. Wow, right? How big was his cabinet?