Avignon, France + Disney's Alaskan Cruise
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Alison is obsessed with her Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Rechargeable Toothbrush. She was gifted it by way of her husband who did some video editing for a dentist's office, so you know it's recommended. Plus it has a crazy app that shows you where you haven't brushed yet, if you are pressing against your teeth too hard, and more! Welcome to the future of oral hygiene. Lulu is obsessed with podcasts. She has been for awhile, but has a new appreciation now that she has some alone time. Specifically Desert Island Discs and Through Line!
Alison is looking for "a vitamin or something" that keeps your body, umm, regular. Lulu asks if she has tried probiotics or yogurt, to which Alison said "no". Somehow she must have missed all those Activia commercials. We digress into healthy choices during quarantine life and how to keep yourself on a schedule and get good sleep so you can stay healthy. Then Lulu reveals that her wishlist is Jalapeno Cheetos. If this isn't indicative of how everyone is feeling these days then I don't know what is.
Lulu has wanted to do a 10K Day in Avignon ever since we started this whole thing. She's held out, and she wanted to do it in July because of a particular event (keep reading), but all of the current lockdowns and social distancing had her feeling a bit down, and planning luxurious outings in the capital city of Provence is the perfect happy for Lulu. Why? Well, Lulu lived in Avignon when she was 19, studying French for about a year. It's where she met all of her Swedish friends that her and Alison met up with when they went on a real life trip to Stockholm. This formative time of her life has incredible sentimental value to her, and some great memories of incredible wine for the cost of a can of soda.
While she lived in student style housing in real life, she’s ditching the small apartment for a stay at hidden gem luxury boutique hotel La Mirande. Lulu books their suite for $2900 for two nights. Even by American standards the room is quite spacious, and with it’s decor will have you swooning for all things French. Think wall hangings, silk lined curtains, parquet floors, antique furniture and paintings, and views of the Pope’s palace through “period-appropriate old glass”. The belle époque bath room with Carrara marble-encased bathtub is calling out Lulu’s name. The icing on le gâteau is the invisible mirror television, it’s there for a Netflix binge if you like, but disguised if you don’t. This means no large TV in the background of your hotel room selfies.
Like many a medieval-times-originated European town, Avignon is very walkable. Lots of windy roads to deter invaders, and narrow roads at that. So driving would be a nightmare, and walking helps balance out the carb-centric meal that Lulu and anyone with taste buds would indulge in at Maison Violette. A boulangerie naturelle with drool-worthy breads and pastries, a breakfast stop here is a no-brainer.
Lulu heads back to La Mirande to take their private cooking class. She bought out the 10 people minimum class, at 140 euros each, plus an apron embroided with “La Mirande” for 30 euros. She wants to keep that apron as a keepsake, so to wear while educating herself in the culinary arts she buys a BA Craftmade Apron in a dark grey color with burgundy straps.
Wanting to complete her appropriately-attired look, she researched best heels to wear for comfort (not being caught dead in Crocs or some other skid-proof shoe was a goal), she stumbled across Travel + Leisure’s list of “Most Comfortable Heels of 2020”. She buys Sam Edelman’s Hazel Pointed-Toe Heel, which comes in an unbelievably vast selection of colors.
Always one to be prepared, Lulu shows up to her cooking class with a $3800 knife. The Sakai Takayuki Ginmaki mirrored Honyaki white steel Japanese chef’s knife has a pure-silver ringed ebony handle and comes in a Paulownia box…and has magical powers. Okay not that last one, but at that price it’d be nice if that were the case, huh? Apron on, knife in hand, perched by a butcher’s block counter in her sexy-yet-comfotable heels, Lulu feels like the quintessential femme chef, ready to learn some techniques! She also buys some linens from Linvosges to take home so that her dinner party look is as elevated as the haute french cuisine she prepares.
For lunch she’s thinking the classic steak hache frites dish will suffice, preferably from a street cart. She then heads on a nostalgia tour to get a baquette from her old bakery, a hot chocolate from a cafe she used to frequent, and a pastis at an outside table. Living the french life she was meant to live, basically.
Lulu is sad that her favorite bar La Bibliotheque is gone. However the club she used to go to is alive and well, so perhaps a pop-in at Bokaos for old time’s sake is warranted.
Lulu WILL do this at some point in her life, but in this 10K day, she is taking in everything she possibly can at Festival d’Avignon. It has been in existence since 1947, though is cancelled for 2020. So 2021, then! This city-wide festival features dance, exhibition, spectacle theatre, interactive experiences, the works, really, in upwards of 1500 locations every night. It is truly an experience, one that we are manifesting into Lulu’s real life A.S.A.P!! If you are considering a trip to Avignon during this renowned festival, check out Culture Trip's essential guide.
Dinner is at Hiély Lucully, a restaurant Lulu is familiar with from her time in Avignon, it is the first fine dining experience she ever had. She saved up for months so she could have a $300 meal. Hence her love for fine food! The spot has different owners and chefs then when she was there. Excited and curious to try their new concept - Peruvian + Provençal = Pérouvence. The black truffle tasting is for sure happening, plus some french wine…okay ALL the french wine. What a day in Avignon, France!
For more travel tips and suggestions in Avignon and the surrounding Provençal region, check out Lonely Planet’s guide.
Over the social isolation so generously provided for her by COVID-19, Alison is planning a no-holds-barred-forget-the-rules 10K Day, scratch that, 10K week, for herself an Lulu!
First things first, luxury plus getting to each other means she needs black car service from our favorite, Blacklane. They pick up Alison in Tampa, drive to Orlando to get Lulu, and drops them off at the airport to get on a multi-layover flight to Vancouver. But that is not where they are staying. And while “it’s about the journey not the destination” can ring true, this 10K vaca is about the journey they journey to. Bit of a stretch? Here’s what we mean. Alison and Lulu are boarding a Disney Cruise to Alaska!
Their 7-Night Cruise has stops in Dawes Glacier, Skagway, Juneau, an Ketchikan, Alaska! They are staying in the Oceanview room with two separate beds for the week costing $6674!
Alison is calling a “treat yo self” week and going with the best excursions she could find in each port!! This means that in Dawes Glacier, Alaska, they are sailing through the Endicott Arm Fjord on the Glacier Explorer excursion. “Weave through shimmering icebergs and travel near the rugged shoreline aboard a boat with exceptional agility. As occasions arise, the captain will stop to allow for viewing and photography of wildlife, such as pigeon guillemots, bald eagles, harbor seals, mountain goats and bears”. Since Alison broke the one day rule and went for the full week cruise, let’s say she can break the somewhat unspoken rule of only having what you buy to utilize on the trip and they have the plethora of camera equipment they’ve gotten on previous days, and get to play nature photographer for a bit.
In Skagway, Alaska, they are blowing glass in Jewell Gardens and dining in the garden’s restaurant. Alison accidentally searches an afternoon tea excursion at Butchart Gardens while at their next stop, but turns out that excursion was on a cruise going to Victoria, British Columbia. So they’ll have to pick one of these Juneau excursions.
In Ketchikan, Alaska they go on a fishing exhibition and then get to Cook Your Catch! This is taking an outdoorsy turn. They’ll just have to spend the rest of their money back on the ship buying bougie cocktails for a balanced week.
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