We head out of of Paris and through the rolling French countryside, all the way to the south of the country and the medieval town of Avignon.

A journey that would take weeks in that era, and 7 hours by car these days, is much faster by TGV train. So fast you barely notice the time pass until suddenly you arrive.

Avignon is in low season, which means a lot of restaurants and shops are closed. But we were here for a quick stopover and to see one important sight: le Pont Saint Benezet, inspiration for the song. 

However we wouldn't arrive in town until 4 pm, and the tickets stop being sold at 4:30. We would have to walk to our Airbnb, check in, run towards the bridge and find the ticket office all within 30 minutes. And with two kids reaching their limit. Would we make it?

Jan. 13: Sur le pont d'Avignon, on est chanceux

Travel Podcast producer Ted Cragg steps out from his home studio in Canada to embark on his own great adventure, spending 3 months, primarily in Portugal, slow travelling with his wife Emilie and their two young kids, 5 and 7 years old.

It's been 11 years since the end of their last great trip (pre-kids, of course!), a 'round-the-world odyssey over 15 months. Since then, travel for them has been limited, and slow travel nonexistent.

However, 2023 suddenly represented an opportunity to reconnect with that life. They decided to seize the moment and pick up where they left off, 11 years later.

This podcast documents the daily experience of travel as a family in 2023. Practical info for parents, travel tips for Portugal and beyond, and observations and reflections on travel, and how it has changed and evolved.

Ted produces travel podcasts, such as Destination Morocco, and hosts his own regular show, Travel Podcast the World, which profiles other travel podcasters, sharing advice and insight on the craft.

Now, he puts that advice into practice, in a bold new audio adventure.