New Year 2011 in Avignon

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This blog is celebrating to-day the New Year with a few photos of Avignon city centre.

This sculpture named ‘Gran elefant dret’, by Miquel Barcelo, has been standing for several months here, in the Popes’ palace square. I thought it would have left us last autumn to go and spend a new summer to some southern hemisphere town, but it’s still with us to celebrate the new year. Good for us, for I like it! The little girl gives the scale.

The city’s heart beats here, in the Place de l’Horloge (Clock Square). An old-fashioned merry-go-round brightens up the atmosphere in front of the theatre. You can see that after New Year’s Eve night and a good morning’s rest, lots of people enjoy a stroll in this mild afternoon end.

At dusk, the city hall is enhanced by its Christmas illuminations.

Nearly the same view with a bit of zooming. The sign that reads Release the hostages is to support two French reporters who have been detained in Afghanistan for one year.

Night has fallen on the Place de l’Horloge and its Christmas market.

Here is the Gran elefant dret again, in front of the Petit Palais, which shelters now a museum of paintings.

Aren’t you tempted by the nicely displayed sweets of this confectioner’s in the Rue des Marchands (Shopkeepers Street)? Happy New Year to everybody.         Huberaime