It’s been a couple of years since Barrow Greener Living got off the ground, and as I am part of the group, I feel a responsibility to live a life that minimises my personal carbon footprint. Of course, ‘minimise’ is the key word as it is near impossible to avoid plastics or other materials made with fossil fuels. And this, stated by the man who lives in a concrete house and is only slowly weaning himself off meat! But these are stories for another time.
Back to this story: last summer my long- suffering wife and family friend Janet were keen for a holiday, but I wanted one that might help restore my tattered eco reputation. We wanted sunshine, beautiful scenery, a bit of history, good food and wine. But to do all this at a relaxed pace. Oh, and a bit of people-watching! After discussion, we settled on the south of France – Provence - to be exact. I’ll admit, I was drawn to the idea because I love saying “Provence”. It sounds so cool and sophisticated. Not at all like me!
Determined to keep things green, we travelled light (wash, wear, spare) and took the train from Barrow to Avignon. We had bought a five-day travel pass for £220, which allowed us to travel first class anywhere in France on fve separate days. The twelve-hour journey was surprisingly pleasant, broken up by four changes, including a short metro trip across Paris. In hindsight, we could have split the journey over two days, but after having once driven from the south of France in a single day, the train felt more like a spa.
Arriving at Avignon station, we picked up a pre-booked electric car and drove a short distance to a fantastic gîte near Orange. From this base, we spent five days exploring the wonders of Provence: rolling fields, sun-drenched vineyards, and ancient stone villages. The region exceeded all our expectations. And for anyone wondering: yes, the gîte had a washing machine, which was a lifesaver for our limited couture wardrobe.
After returning the car to Avignon, we left our luggage at a “Nanny Bag” shop (highly recommended: see the app!) unburdened, we explored the historic city on foot. Later that evening, we caught a train to Lyon, where we’d booked an apartment for the next leg of our little adventure.
Lyon offered two highlights within easy walking distance: the beautiful park to the north of the city, and, on our second day, the impressive Roman antiquities perched high on the western hill. Both were well worth the visit.
In conclusion, we had a fantastic holiday. Travelling by train was no hardship, especially for me, as hopefully, it has helped to partially repair my eco credentials. Besides, I’m too old to drive all that way, and I’m scared of flying! Yes, with luck, we’ll be exploring Europe by train again.
Bob Johnson