Friendly locals

My wife has a good impression of the residents of Avignon. The mini train, wherever it goes, is greeted warmly by the residents on both sides of the road. Compared to the people of Paris and other major cities in France, the residents here are much more enthusiastic, friendly, and polite.

They are always ready to give detailed directions when you ask for the way or have any questions. When shopping, you will be warmly greeted by the salespeople, even if you don’t buy anything.

My wife also remarked that the people here don’t seem to be in a hurry. All activities, from daily life and business to transportation, proceed at a leisurely pace. People and vehicles on the road always move slowly, at least in the old quarter. They create a pleasant atmosphere unlike the Parisians.

People often say “polite like Parisians,” but now that’s no longer true. Is it because there aren’t many true Parisians left, or is there another reason?

In Vietnam, people believe that the people of Tràng An-Hà Nội are elegant, while those from the South are warm-hearted… Now, it’s no longer like that! Elegance and enthusiasm have been replaced by selfishness, annoyance, and meticulous calculation.

It seems to be the consequence of a highly commercialized life…

While riding the mini train, we passed by a place that resembled a watchtower. From there, I saw the river with four lonely bridges in the faint, languid afternoon sunlight, and suddenly, a feeling of wistfulness arose in my heart. About a historical period, about the remnants that seem to be cherished and preserved, enduring forever, even as time coldly passes by…

The Saint Bénézet Bridge, more famously known as the Avignon Bridge, is not only a symbol of the city of Avignon but also an important symbol of French culture. Why?

Built around the 70s-80s of the 12th century, the bridge initially consisted of 22 spans crossing the Rhône River. For many years, this bridge was an important trade route between the regions of the former Roman Empire in Southern Europe and other areas.

According to a legend, it all began when Benoit, a 12-year-old shepherd boy from the Ardèche region, arrived in Avignon in 1177. He received a divine command to stand up and call for the construction of a bridge in Avignon. He proclaimed that divine word, and immediately the residents here mocked him.

The leaders of Avignon at that time forced Bénézet (also known as Benoit) to take a stone and throw it into the Rhône River. With the help of the divine, Bénézet lifted the stone and threw it into the river. That was the first stone laid as the foundation for the bridge.

There is another completely different story about Bénézet. It seems that he, when he grew up, established a charity, raising funds to build the Avignon bridge, in order to help travelers from afar. Bénézet passed away in 1184 before seeing the bridge completed about a year later. He was canonized, hence the bridge was named Saint Bénézet.