Avignon

On The Bridge Of Avignon

On the bridge of Avignon,

See them dance, see them dance!

On the bridge of Avignon,

They trip around, retire, advance;

Gallant swains bend low, like this,

And once again do so, like this.

On the bridge of Avignon,

See them dance, see them dance!

On the bridge of Avignon,

They trip around, retire, advance;

Fair ladies curtsey low, like this,

And once again do so, like this.

See them dance, see them dance,

On the bridge of Avignon.

In Avignon, in southern France there is a beautiful bridge that was built between 1175 and 1185.  The majority of it collapsed during a monumental flooding in 1668.  The bridge is not so much for dancing today as it is to be appreciated for its beauty of four arches that remain of the original twenty-two that once crossed the Rhone River and connected Avignon with the village of Villeneuve-les-Avignon.  The story goes that a local shepherd boy, Saint Benezet, claimed that angels appeared to him in a dream and told him to build a bridge across the Rhone.  His dream was dismissed as nonsense until, by some miracle, he single-handedly lifted a massive block of stone~an impossible feat for any one person.  Saint Benezet became a hero overnight and funds were found to build his "dream" bridge.  He is buried in the small chapel above one of the remaining arches.  Some believe that angels watch over anyone who enters the walled city of Avignon.  I  do believe that too.  I think Kara and I were watched over on our visit there.

The beautiful bridge!

There are days that I want to be enclosed inside a walled city....... or so it seems.  You know, when you have a desire to slow down and be enclosed by only people and places who are uplifting.  Those who love you for who you are and accept you for who you are.  It seems that Avignon offers this security within its walls.  Avignon is a city to be celebrated...........let us dance, let us dance and be free to be who we were meant to be!  Dreams really do come true!  Please don't be afraid to dream!  Sweet dreams, my friend!

~The beautiful little chapel up close~