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On the bridge in Avignon, France, not far from where you can buy a beautiful Provençal shawl.

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. – William Morris

I was in the too-pretty city of Avignon in the south of France, waiting for a bus that would not arrive for at least 10 minutes, so I stepped into a nearby shop for a quick look around, not to buy anything really.

No. Really.

So although the multicolored Provençal shawl by French textile maker, Valdrôme, caught my attention right away, I boarded my bus as soon as it arrived, and went off to see the city of Nîmes and the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct bridge built by the Romans …

The still impressive Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard: what to see after buying your Provençal shawl in Avignon.

and did not buy it until after I returned to Avignon.

How is that Provençal shawl today?

Years later the shawl is still beautiful, the colors still bright.

The colors of this largely red Provençal shawl and its royal blue and gold accents remain vibrant after many years of use.

Really lightweight, it folds to fit into all but my smallest purses and keeps me comfortably warm when air conditioning blows too cold. And this is the best part – the luxurious blend of soft wool and silk feels fantastic against my skin.

What item, found or bought while traveling long ago, do you still use today?