A few sedate days at home and out and about. Visited a couple of places that were ok, but not worth writing about - Salon de Provence, Bonnieux. Maybe we are getting a bit blaze about views and buildings as we have seen so many wonderful ones.
Visited a few villages nearby however that were really striking. The beauty of Provence is simply to drive around and come across wonderful little villages perched on hillsides and admire the views.
The drive around the Dentelles de Miramail is wonderful. Very peaceful. We read a lot about Provence being spoiled since Mayle's A year in Provence, but we don't think so. The French are so settled in their ways that I don't think anything will influence the way they do things.
Had booked a visit to a vineyard with tasting included, but unfortunately the rain put a stopper to that. It had rained hard for two nights in a row (but sunny and warm during the day) and they cancelled it. Was very disappointed as I fancy trying to harvest some grapes!! Instead went to Marseille for the day. What a good idea. Not edgy at all as I feared, but rather lively and thriving city. Great weekend break place. Great shops (not in shopping mood - too fat) and lovely atmosphere overall.
Ah, had the best meal yet in France: Unfortunately it was in a Lebanese restaurant. Yummy.....
Beautiful day again today, but temperature definitely down. Now around early 20's as opposed to mid 30's. Mornings quite nippy.
A week to go here and then Burgundy. Almost time to go home. But, where is Home???
Sunday 19 September 2010
Thursday 9 September 2010
mistral/storms/good days
well, haven't written for a few days because I think people get fed up of me saying what a great day I've had and all that. Also, because I like writing when I have found something that surprised me. This week we have found a few surprises: a lovely place called L'Isle sur la Sorgue which was very good for shops and restaurants and very French - what a surprise, since I am in France.... and from there went on to Fontaine de Vaucluse, which I really liked and will be going back to, probably for Sunday lunch as it has lots of nice eating places right by the riverside, very picturesque. Really liked the setting. Great mountains surrounding it and just a chilled out place.
We then had an almighty storm on Monday night that went on for six hours non stop of thunder and lightening as we have never heard before. Even the landlady that has lived here for 19 years said she screamed at one point as a really loud thunder seemed to have exploded right above our heads. Nobody slept much that night and the next day the mistral hit for the whole day. We just chilled out. As always, we were extremely lucky as in surrounding areas they had real deluges.
Today we saw evidence of the floods in the fields, with apple plantation and vineyards with still around 20cm of water around their roots. Shame.
We visited St. Remy where Van Gogh spent a year just before he died and where most of his very famous work was painted (I got a photo of myself in his room at the hospital he stayed at) and visited Le Baux nearby. Both really nice places that I recommend. The views from Le Baux were just stunning.
Sorry to be so boring, but France keeps delivering. Fabulous. I could get used to this life.
We then had an almighty storm on Monday night that went on for six hours non stop of thunder and lightening as we have never heard before. Even the landlady that has lived here for 19 years said she screamed at one point as a really loud thunder seemed to have exploded right above our heads. Nobody slept much that night and the next day the mistral hit for the whole day. We just chilled out. As always, we were extremely lucky as in surrounding areas they had real deluges.
Today we saw evidence of the floods in the fields, with apple plantation and vineyards with still around 20cm of water around their roots. Shame.
We visited St. Remy where Van Gogh spent a year just before he died and where most of his very famous work was painted (I got a photo of myself in his room at the hospital he stayed at) and visited Le Baux nearby. Both really nice places that I recommend. The views from Le Baux were just stunning.
Sorry to be so boring, but France keeps delivering. Fabulous. I could get used to this life.
Thursday 2 September 2010
Falling in love with Provence
Here we are, day 5 of our new place and today we had a really good day. We went to Roussillon, which I thought would be a little village with nothing much and only known because of the wine. However, what a nice surprise. It is a large village, with lovely restaurants, shops with quality stuff and an amazing site of the world's biggest vein of ochre. As you'd expect most of the houses are painted in vermillion colour and the whole place is just amazing.
We then went on to Gordes, which is nearby and with amazing views as it is perched on the top of a hill.
Using Tom Tom, as always we avoid the motorways and as a result finished in part of the Nesque Gorge, which wasn't too bad as the roads were wider than previous ones we have been too and the mountains weren't that high. On the way back we travelled along the valley of the Veronde Gorge and this was really impressive.
To top up a lovely day, we stopped at our local Cave - Cave Terra Ventoux and bought lots of wine for a very good price. Oh, joy. Should last until we leave here.
Time seems to be flying, we are now on week 16 of our travels and only have another 6 weeks and a bit to go...
We then went on to Gordes, which is nearby and with amazing views as it is perched on the top of a hill.
Using Tom Tom, as always we avoid the motorways and as a result finished in part of the Nesque Gorge, which wasn't too bad as the roads were wider than previous ones we have been too and the mountains weren't that high. On the way back we travelled along the valley of the Veronde Gorge and this was really impressive.
To top up a lovely day, we stopped at our local Cave - Cave Terra Ventoux and bought lots of wine for a very good price. Oh, joy. Should last until we leave here.
Time seems to be flying, we are now on week 16 of our travels and only have another 6 weeks and a bit to go...
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