Voyages around France

A herd and a flock above Vedene......

2012-11-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

It must be the time of year for the sheep and goats in the area to visit and snack on the grasses on the hill above Vedene. During the summer months you don't find many people or animals in this area but with the cooler temperatures both man and beast are making the rounds with increased frequency.

Nearly everyday for the past 3 or 4 weeks there has been a herd of goats and a flock of sheep making their presence known on "the hill" above the town. Most times you will hear them before you see them as a few of the sheep and goats have bells around their necks that give off a distinctive sound every time they move. Accompanying these animals are usually 3-4 extremely well trained dogs who keep the group moving in the direction that the herder tells them to. It is amazing to just step back and watch and admire the communication between the herder and his dogs. The dogs are VERY aware and attentive and no strays are left behind.

Of course Rudy wants to run and chase and there's no doubt the animals would be spread out over all 4 corners of the hill by the time he finished his "herding" chores. That being the case Rudy is kept close and on his leash which gives him many stressful moments, especially when these curious animals want to get a closer look at him.

"NSLB" - No Stray Left Behind

Alicia holds on to Rudy as the goats and sheep approach.

Rudy doing his best herding impression.

Curious sheep moving in closer to get a closer look at this shaking dog.

Heading across the hill and back towards home.

Saumane de Vaucluse

2012-11-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

Above Saumane de Vaucluse

One of our recent voyages took us to the very small but picturesque village of Saumane-de-Vaucluse. This little hillside town is tucked away up in the west end of the Vaucluse mountain range and doesn't get much of the tourist traffic other towns in the area receive. In fact, there is only one business which is a quant looking cafe that sits near the entrance to the village.

The small 12th century St-Trophime church is located on the south end of the village where you can also get some nice views of the Sorgue River valley in the distance. There is an impressive looking chateau-fortress just past the northern boundary of the village, but it is a private residence and I would have needed to scale the walls or gate to take a closer look. Since I wasn't in the mood to get arrested for trespassing I thought it best to just admire it from afar.

Still no real fall color on the trees here and many of the leaves on those trees are turning a rust color before they finally let go and float softly to earth. Lots of leaves already piling up on ground so I don't think we'll have a colorful fall season here.

St-Trophime church

Le Bistrol de Saumane restaurant...the only business in town.

One of the few streets weaving its way through the village.

This mildly cross eyed kitty didn't seem to be in very good humor, but he gave his okay for just one photo.

At least someone in the village seems to have a sense of humor.

All things American.....

2012-10-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

The church of Notre Dame du Lac which sits right next to the Sorgue river greets you as you enter Le Thor.

Earlier this month we spent a Saturday afternoon in the town of Le Thor which is only a 15 minute drive southeast of Vedene. The purpose of our trip was to see what their American Festival was all about. I really wasn't expecting much but I must admit I was very surprised and impressed with the festival and the large crowds who attended during the day.

There were a fair amount of old American cars and trucks as well as Harley Davidson motorcycles. One of the courtyards in the center of town was filled with people in cowboy hats line dancing to some American country music....and they must have been practicing because they were very good. Lots of people dressed up in American clothes from the 1940's & 1950's singing songs from that era....with a definite French accent.

Still not much color on the leaves here with more falling to the ground quickly turning from green to brown. It's turned much colder and very windy today with the forecast calling for 50 mph winds tomorrow which should separate many leaves from the trees. I'll still keep holding out hope that fall is a little late here and we'll still see some color on those remaining leaves.

I'm not so sure this was American made but it sure looks like it would be alot of fun to ride.

I think this Cadillac might have been slightly modified from its original version.

Old Chevy pickup with Texas license plates.

Just part of the huge crowd enjoying the festival

These ladies were singing alot of those American songs from the 40's & 50's

A crowd watching some line dancing and some Texas two-stepping.

The kids weren't left out of the fun as there were carnival rides to enjoy after getting your face painted.

Another really nice Chevy pickup.

le Barroux.....

2012-10-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

Looking southeast towards le Barroux

A little over a week ago we returned to the little village of le Barroux which we had passed through a few months earlier. Of course our first visit was at the end of the day but the town appeared to be worth coming back to and taking a closer look.

This small village is dominated by a 12th century chateau which was built to protect against invasions that plagued the area during medieval times. It went through major additions in the 16th and 17th centuries but was damaged during the French Revolution. It was repaired in 1929 but because of French resistance during World War II the Germans set it on fire in 1944. New owners in 1960 took on the task of restoring this castle to its original state.

The castle is open for tours but when we arrived the last tour for the day had just started so we missed out on that. We had more than enough daylight left to walk through the town which was very quiet and peaceful. Not alot of shops & restaurants in the village but it has its fair share of nice homes and scenic views especially towards the south into the valleys below.

Already the middle of October and I know the trees back home, at least in some areas are showing some brilliant fall colors. It's starting to feel like fall here but so far I haven't seen any leaves turning color although some have already fallen to the ground. The camera is ready so I'll be on the lookout for any leaves that start to give off any hint of changing to shades of orange, red or yellow......wish me luck!

City hall in the shadows of the castle.

Church next to the castle.

Fountain near the center of town.

Looking to the south...many small villages and towns in that valley below.

After leaving le Barroux we passed through the very small village of la Roque-Alric...population: 75

A trip to Nimes....

2012-10-10T10:39:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we finally visited Nimes which during the Roman era was a very important city. There are still remnants from that era but the town has also grown and expanded with some parts very modern. On the day we arrived the center of the city was buzzing with activity and the streets were full of people. I'm not sure if it's always this crowded but on this day they were having bullfights in the 2nd century Roman arena which is one of the best preserved in France. We had planned to tour the arena but since we weren't too interested in the bullfights we were content to walk those crowded streets and see the sights.

Many people were out shopping as well as having lunch outside while enjoying the many streetside musical and performance acts. Nimes draws in alot of tourists and those tourists were not in short supply as we saw quite a few buses emptying of people. Like many of our trips we often visit multiple areas in one day and Nimes was our last stop. Needless to say we didn't have nearly enough time to really take in all of the city which would probably require a full day.

These guys didn't just walk on these, they also danced. I think they called this dance the "ankle break." :-)

This guy greets you as you're making your way to the Roman arena.

The heart of the city with the arena looming over it.

Huge fountain near the entrance to the center of town.

While enjoying a cool drink at this cafe these musicians dropped by to entertain. They performed a very good rendition of the Pink Panther theme song.

One of the many small shops in Nimes.

Tarascon.....

2012-10-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

Tarascon Castle

I know it's been awhile since my last post so I do have some catching up to do. We've been to a few places since my last entry so I have added alot of photos to the computer files. A couple of weekends ago we returned to the town of Tarascon that sits on the Rhone river south of Avignon. The Tarascon castle and St Martha's Church are 2 impressive landmarks in the town.

Construction on the castle was started in 1441 and finished in 1449. It is one of largest and most well preserved castles that I have seen since arriving here. They spared no expense when building this fortress that has many levels and some nice courtyards inside the walls. Starting in the 16th century the castle was used as a prison up until the 19th century. When touring some of the rooms you can see some very artistic carvings in the stone left by those prisoners. Many of those incarcerated were from the Spanish and English navies so many images of boats and ships cover the walls.

Just across from the castle stands St. Martha's Church which has its origins in the 10th century but was almost entirely rebuilt in the 14th century. As you would expect the church is very ornate on the inside with those high, arched ceilings that many of the churches in this region exhibit.

St. Martha's Church - photo taken from the top of Tarascon Castle

Inside the church

Street view of the church

Courtyard inside the castle

Large rooms with very high ceilings

A room used for prisoners and one of the carvings right into the stone wall.

Another carving of a ship that I imagine the prisoner served on before being captured.

A very small room right next to the king's main chamber. Gives a whole new meaning to the term, "the royal throne."

Rudy versus the sea......

2012-09-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Rudy's long awaited and long delayed trip to the sea is now in the history books. Whether or not this first trip to the sea was enjoyable for him is up for debate. We did find an area close to Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer that allowed dogs so off we went to the beach. As we neared the ocean I could sense that Rudy was getting excited seeing all those waves and all that water. When I finally unhooked his leash he made an immediate dash to the water and followed Alicia who was already about 20 yards into the sea. Even at 20 yards the water was only 2 feet deep in places and it was entertaining to see Rudy jumping over every wave that was coming in to get to where Alicia was standing.

I expected him to initially take a drink of that salty sea water and realize it was not for drinking. The more time we spent in the sea the more we could see that he was still drinking the water. Eventually the boy started feeling badly and we knew we had to get him away from the sea. We had brought some fresh water for him so it was back to the car for him to drink it - and he drank ALOT. At the very least if one drinks alot of sea water it can lead to cramps and cause the kidneys to work overtime in an attempt to flush the system of all that excess salt. I can attest that Rudy's kidneys were working extreme overtime for the next few hours.

After our beach adventure we took Rudy for a short walk into the Camargue which is an area consisting of wetlands, marshes, and lakes. This river delta consists of 360 square miles making it the largest of its kind in western Europe. The area also has a distinctive Spanish feel to it which you can see in some of the architecture as well as in the music you hear being played in the town.

Rudy's first encounter with the sea.

By the time this photo was taken he was starting to feel the effects of all that salt water.

Thinking about going back in....I think the waves intimidated him a little at first.

The Camargue....known for its many trail rides and over 400 species of birds.

Catching a wave and the wind.

The Camargue

The sun starting to set on the western horizon.

Chateauneuf de Pape: Part 2

2012-09-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

During most of the 14th century the Catholic Church was headquartered in Avignon France. Of course the Popes needed a summer residence so they chose a high point north of Avignon to build that summer residence. They called this new fortress/chateau Chateauneuf du Pape which literally means, "the Pope's new house." Only 2 walls remain of this large structure but when visiting it you get the feeling that it was quite impressive while the Popes where there.

From the chateau you have a great 360 degree view of the plain of Comtat which is known for its vineyards and winemaking. To the south you can see the outline of Avignon as well as the Rhone river which is just to the west and in the valley below. Even with what remains of the place it is evident that they spared no expense in the construction of their summer home.

As is the case for many of the castles and fortresses of the area it has been destroyed by different groups of people throughout the centuries. During the Wars of Religion it was partially destroyed and then for the final time when the Germans were retreating during World War II.

Steps leading up to the chateau above the town.

The only 2 remaining walls

The east interior wall that is now an exterior wall as well.

A good place for a Pope to sit and enjoy the view plus the nice breeze.

The south wall and the main room on the first floor. Notice how thick the walls are. If not for those who destroyed most of the chateau I imagine it would still be intact today.

In the center of the photo you can barely see the outline of Avignon and the Rhone river.

2012-09-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Remains of the castle above Chateauneuf du Pape

A little over a week ago we took a short drive to the village of Chateauneuf du Pape which is well known for its excellent wines. The fields and landscape surrounding the village are full of vineyards - about 7500 acres in all dedicated to growing the grapes the area is famous for. In some areas you can make a 360 degree turn and all you will see are vineyards.

You might say Chateauneuf du Pape is the town that wine built as there a great many wine shops and wine cellars, or wine caves as they are called in France. Above the town are the remains of the castle that was built in 1320 by Pope Jean XXII that was used as a summer residence for the popes when the papacy was located in Avignon.

I've uploaded some photos of the town and the surrounding area and in my next post I'll share some photos of what's left of the castle where the popes spent their summers.

One of the numerous wine caves...watch your step....and your head.

Most of the caves have steep steps down and VERY low clearance.

Late afternoon shadows leaving their mark on this narrow street.

Just a lazy day or could it be that Morris had one too many wine samples?

One of the many restaurants in town.

As far as the eye can see....lots of grapes just about ready to be harvested.

A large vineyard and winery located in the rolling hills just outside the town.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

2012-09-03T13:34:00.002-07:00

It's already been 2 weeks since we were in the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie which is almost a 2 hour drive from here. Definitely a tourist type of village with lots of shops and restaurants for the many who come to visit there.

A stream flowing from the cliffs above the village slices the town almost in half with a few waterfalls along the way. There are also lots of fountains large and small that you will find as you take a leisurely walk around town. Chains suspend a star above the town that was originally put there by a knight who promised he would place a star above the village after returning from captivity during the crusades.

Above the town is the Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel which was built in the 8th century and restored in the 12 and 16th centuries. I made the very steep walk to see the chapel up close which also gave me some great views of the village below and the surrounding countryside.

Last Friday night I had good intentions of getting some photos of the blue moon. However those good intentions were thwarted by clouds and very high winds. We were returning from Monteux when off to our left we could see that big fat moon on the eastern horizon. A quick trip with the camera and tripod to the hill above Vedene was made in about 5 minutes after that. In those 5 minutes clouds had completely covered the moon leaving me with nothing but darkness to photograph. When the moon appeared about a half an hour later I tried to take some photos with no success. The wind was blowing so hard that even with a tripod getting clear photos was impossible....I got some nice blurry ones though. :-)

Sunday we took a short drive to the town of Chateauneuf du Pape which is in big time wine country. I'll share our visit there and post some photos in my next entry.

Almost to the chapel-looking back towards part of the village.

Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel

Looking up at the chapel...a very winding walkway to the top.

The village is also know for fine ceramics

This guy had the best view of all.

You can just make out the star to the top and center of the photo.

One of the many fountains in the village and the water is COLD!

Another ceramic shop.

This guy used a blowtorch to craft all types of ornate creatures from glass.

I think it's time to replace those shutters.

A waterfall right next to a restaurant where we had a cold drink.

Our eastern trip.....

2012-08-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

The river below as it flows into the lake. Beaches on both sides and lots of canoe and paddle boat renters on the water.

View from the winding road above.

Those rocky cliffs on both sides were used as diving platforms into the deep turquoise water below.

Pedal power!!!

Mustiers-Sainte-Marie in the distance.

The plateau with a recently harvested lavender field on the left and a wheat field on the right.

From the plateau we chased the sun on our way back home.

A little over a week ago we returned to an area we had visited last November. Quite a difference between winter and summer and not just with the weather. The areas we traveled to were the Verdon Gorge, Mustiers-Sainte-Marie and an impressive plateau just east of this region. Of course with the tourist season in high gear there were thousands of people enjoying all that this part of France has to offer.

The Verdon Gorge is a river canyon that cuts and winds through limestone rocks as it flows into a manmade lake called Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. This very deep canyon attracts rock climbers, tourists and also those who swim and boat in the lake the river flows into. Just north of the gorge and lake is the town of Mustiers-Sainte-Marie which I'll write more about during my next entry. The plateau is just as impressive as it is a flat area that rises up from the surrounding hills and valleys. A great amount of lavender and wheat is grown on the plateau which contrasts with the surrounding countryside.

The Calanques-Part 2

2012-08-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

View of Mediterranean Sea from a trail in the Calanques. In the foreground is the opening of one of the many inlets the area is famous for.

During our recent trip south to the Mediterranean Sea we visited an area called the Calanques. After hearing alot about this part of France and seeing photos it was good to finally see with my own eyes. The beach we hiked to was nice but small so we spent most of the time there on the rocky ledges on both sides of the inlet that run from the sea to the beach. It was a short hike to the ledges that were very good for jumping into the very clear and refreshing water below us.

This part of France continues to cook in a heatwave that has seen temperatures the last few days hovering right around 100 degrees. The mistral winds which the area is famous for have been virtually non existent and they would be welcome to return at anytime.

Saturday we returned to an area that we last visited in November of last year which was quite different this time around. We made the almost 2 hour drive east to Moustiers St Marie and the Gorges du Verdon region. In November we pretty much had the area to ourselves but now at the height of the tourist season we shared the area with thousands of others. The camera got a good workout and I'll upload those photos in my next post.

One of the many excursion boats that floated into the inlet.

The rocky ledge near the opening to the Mediterranean.

Those rocks made for good diving boards.

The Calanques.....

2012-08-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

Small islands with fortresses near the port of Marseille.

Last Sunday we loaded up everyone in 2 cars and headed south towards the Mediterranean Sea and an area called the Calanques. This part of the coast just east of Marseille is known for its very scenic area where tall cliffs drop straight down into the ocean. There are many small inlets that dot the landscape with nice little beaches and harbors at the end of these inlets. The real fun part of this trip is the long walk to these inlets after you park your car. Then you start your walk through the hilly city, then up and down rocky paths worn down by the thousands of people who visit this area every year.

This part of the Calanques right next to the town of Cassis took a good 30 minutes from town to walk which was an up and down journey until we reached our destination. I would have to say the hike was worth it because of the great views and the nice little beach that greeted us when we arrived.

We decided to make the drive through Marseille and the old port on our way to Cassis. This part of the city was very busy and full of tourists dining in the restaurants, shopping in small markets and boarding some scenic boat cruises. The old port was in use more than 2500 years ago by the Greeks who started a settlement there. Today the city of Marseille and its suburbs are inhabited by about 1.6 million people.

This was another trip in which alot of photos were taken so I've posted some now and will upload a few more in my next entry.

HEAT: Just a note that this area and other parts of Europe are now feeling some of the heat that folks back home have been dealing with all summer long. Yesterday the temperature reached 40 Celsius on our thermometer which translates to 104 Fahrenheit. Makes a person wish he lived closer to the beach....like right next to it. :-)

Just a small part of the trail at the end of our walk.

Another small inlet just for boats.

A beach for hotel guests in Cassis that we walked by. Our beach was still a long walk ahead of us.

The same beach looking towards the Mediterranean and cliffs rising above the sea.

The inlet leading to the beach we visited. The water was very clear and refreshing. The rocks below provided a good diving board into the water.

Return to Venasque....

2012-08-14T03:55:00.000-07:00

Vineyards below soaking up the last rays of sun.

One evening last week we decided to take Alicia's mother to visit the small village of Venasque that we had visited before. Although the town does draw in visitors it's somewhat off the beaten path for a large amount of tourists. When we arrived the few shops were already closed with only the restaurant open for business. We took our time taking a leisurely stroll along the length of the town, stopping to look, admire....and of course take some photos.

The late afternoon sun was providing some nice shadows and contrasting colors on the buildings and the Nesque valley below. Nightfall was rapidly approaching when we departed and the western sky was glowing with color as the sun was disappearing below the horizon. We traveled a couple of miles east of Venasque before turning around and heading back home. At this point on a ridge we stopped the car on the side of the road and just enjoyed the final moments of sunlight and the colorful display it was sharing with us.

This past weekend we finally traveled to an area on the Mediterranean Sea near the old fishing port of Cassis which is next to what is called the Calanques. You won't find much level ground there with most of the landscape filled with towering cliffs dropping almost straight down into the ocean below.
I'll write about that trip in my next 2 entries.

Hmmmmm....a storage building or a VERY little one room house.

Lots of cats in Venasque....guarding this car or watching over the village...or both.

Meet Morris....director of village security.

What remains of the fortress walls on the east side of town.

Memorial honoring villagers who died during WW1. Nearly every French village will have a memorial like this with most including those lost during WW2.

Looking towards that brilliant sunset with Venasque to the left. On the horizon you can barely see the steeple of the 12th century church in the village.

Mother Nature used some nice colors with this sunset.

"Giant of the Provence"

2012-08-08T05:17:00.001-07:00

In my posts I've mentioned Mont Ventoux numerous times and in the photos I've posted it will sometimes be visible in the background. The mountain is also known as the "Giant of the Provence" or "The Bald Mountain." Bald referring to the peak of the mountain having very little vegetation with mostly just bare limestone which from a distance gives the appearance of snow.

I would consider Mont Ventoux to be a small mountain at 6,273 feet, but it towers over the rest of the region. The mistral winds can be extremely strong at the peak with the highest recorded winds at 200 mph! The views at the top are outstanding and on clear days you can easily see the Alps towering to the east.

It was a fairly warm day over a week ago that we decided that a trip to the peak would be a good idea just to see how much cooler it might be. Since there is a temperature gauge in the car we were able to see and feel the warm weather gradually turn cold. By the time we reached the top the temperature had dropped more than 20 degrees and the wind was blowing with a vengeance. Note to self: Take a coat next time.

The mountain is a favorite of cyclists in the area and is sometimes included in a stage of the Tour de France.

Tower at the top

The Alps in the distance

A little hotel and restaurant below the peak

Looking south towards the smaller Vaucluse range.

Looking down from the north side of Mont Ventoux

Alicia, her mother and daughter enjoying the views at the peak.

The afternoon sun casting shadows on all that bare limestone.

Bishops of Cavaillon chateau....

2012-08-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

During our 2nd trip in a week to Fountaine de Vaucluse we finally walked and climbed the trail to the Bishops of Cavaillon chateau. The 14th century ruins are perched high above the village and would have been a good place to make a "last stand" against the enemy, although I'm not sure if that was ever necessary.

The trail ascends quickly but it's a fairly short hike to the top, with some climbing on slick rocks involved. Part of the path hugs the side of a cliff so I really needed to watch my step so I wouldn't end up taking a very quick trip back to the village below. Once at the top I was treated with some nice views of the Sorgue river directly below as well as the cliffs to the north that tower high above the ruins.

One of the few walls that remain standing.

The old entrance to the chateau

At the ruins looking north.

From here you could observe anyone below...friend or foe.

The Sorgue river before it makes a big left turn and enters the main village.

When you visit some of these rock fortresses (or what's left of them) you can't help but think about all the backbreaking work that it took to quarry, cut, carry and then put all those rocks into place....in very high places. I'm sure chiropractry would have been a booming business during construction time.. :-)

Fountaine de Vaucluse

2012-07-31T05:39:00.001-07:00

Ruins of the Bishops of Cavaillon chateau - 14th century

Recently we've made 2 trips to Fountaine de Vaucluse which I have written about before. This little village of around 600 inhabitants is usually inundated with tourists during the summer months and it's easy to see why.

The huge spring that originates right next to the village is the source of the Sorgue River that runs through the center of town which is dotted with many shops and restaurants. The village is one of the most picturesque in the region and sits in a valley surrounded by towering cliffs on 3 sides. Our first trip was to give our guests a chance to see the area and our 2nd return trip was to take the trail up to the Bishops of Cavaillon chateau which is the ruins of a small medieval castle that overlooks the town. That "trail" at times was nothing more than a narrow path with some climbing involved. Those paths sometimes hugged the side of the cliffs which are a straight drop down to the valley below....good hiking shoes and watching your step are definite requirements for the trip to see the castle ruins.

I've posted some photos of the village with more photos of the chateau ruins in my next entry.

Part of the river is diverted with dams along the way before passing through the village. A nice park to the right that you enter by going through a tunnel carved out of solid rock.

Notre-Dame et Saint Veran church - 11th century

A small park just downstream from the spring that feeds the river.

People relaxing and enjoying a nice meal next to the river.

Very near the beginning of the Sorgue river.

This shop greets you as you enter the village with many items from the local area.

The front of the shop "La Marmite des Saveurs"...The pot of flavors.

Evening settling in as more people enjoy the many restaurants along the Sorgue

A full house.....

2012-07-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, a full house around here lately with Alicia's mom visiting from Peru and her daughter & family from northern France spending some vacation time here as well. It has given us the opportunity to show them some of the places we've already visited which is good as there are always things to do and see that we didn't experience during our previous trips.

Saturday they wanted to take in the market in Apt and then tour what's called the Provencal Colorado which is an old mining area of ochre near the village of Rustrel. The ochre here was mined above and below ground. The colors here go from white to brick red and I've read that there are actually 25 different shades of color in the hardened clay. The ochre is a very soft clay type of rock that is eroded by rain, wind and the elements that take their toll very quickly.

What is left from all that erosion is multi colored sand dunes, rocks and cliffs. The last century saw a steep decline in the use of ochre due to the use of chemicals to color paint and textiles. Ochre is still used to some extent to color paint and plaster and can also be found in cosmetic powders and pastes.
Anyone who visits the area knows that you'll need to wash your clothes after a hike there as those 25 different shades of colors seem to be attracted to clothes....and skin.

I continue to be amazed with all these chunks of cheese. This vendor had cheese and some sausage to the left.

Different vendor....more cheese.

Provencal Colorado near Rustrel

Just like walking on a sandy beach except with more color...but not a drop of water to be found.

Just about in the center of the photo you can see where the eroded clay turns into that colored sand.

Vedene Carnival Saturday night. This was my favorite ride....well, it would have been but they said I was over the weight limit.....just slightly though.

Yes, they do have cotton candy in France too.

Roussillon and ochre.....

2012-07-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

Recently we returned to the nice little village of Roussillon which sits on a hill in the valley between the Vaucluse and Luberon ranges. The town is famous for its ochre deposits which are actually hardened, multi colored clay formations that were once mined for use in textiles and paint. The pigments from the mined ochres range from yellow, orange, red and white.

Mining of ochre in this area is now prohibited in order to protect the remaining sites and quarries. Tourists from around the world come here to view the colorful cliffs and to enjoy the town's many restaurants and shops. The buildings around the village still reflect the mining era here as they are multi colored as well.

The early evening sun reflecting off the ochre cliffs.

Almost looks as if someone took a paint brush to this cliff.

A little shop near the center of town.

Roussillon - "Centre Ville"

Church at the highest point in the village.

Looking northeast from Roussillon

Saignon and some more lavender....

2012-07-12T05:38:00.002-07:00

Last Saturday we made a return visit to Saignon which is a small village perched on a hill and behind a very steep rock cliff that has some excellent views of the valleys below. The town itself is small but has alot of character although not many shops or restaurants. No trip to Saignon is complete without a hike to the rock cliff and just spending some time in the small town square.

The village of about 1000 inhabitants also has a 12th century church called Notre-Dame de Pitie and on the day we were there a wedding had just taken place. Of course I pretended I was a guest and mingled through the wedding crowd and took some photos....my first French wedding photos. :-)

From Saignon we descended north into the valley below to some lavender fields we had seen from above and then on to Roussillon. Since I've posted quite a few photos from the Saignon area I'll post the ones from Roussillon in my next entry.

Rock cliff above Saignon

Some lavender fields below

Vintage rental car

Saignon from the rock cliff. Notre-Dame de Pitie to the left

Lots of green covering the front of this house.

Near the center of town.

The small village square

Old rock farm house surrounded by lavender

More lavender in the distance

Looking north from the rock.

More lavender...this field below Saignon had an electric fence around it. I've noticed that some of the fields next to the more heavily traveled roads have these fences installed - to keep lavender thieves like me away I'm sure.

The same vintage rental car with alot of the color removed. The top does come off to give you that convertible feel.

A similar car - Not for rent.

This local man and his dog were selling a few trinkets. He had posted a sign that any photos taken of him would cost you 5 Euros. I guess I was far enough away that I didn't get charged.

One of the restaurants in town.

The happy couple right after the ceremony.

Sunflowers and a visit to Roquemaure....

2012-07-09T03:27:00.000-07:00

I guess you would call this guy an MBM...Master Bubble Maker

Avignon - One very ornate and fancy merry-go-round

Avignon - The walls of the buildings were covered with posters of all the plays and performances taking place during the festival.

Inside the 13th century Collegiate church in Roquemaure

Collegiate church

City Hall - Roquemaure

Fortress ruins in Roquemaure....if I was a resident I think I would be a little concerned about the structural integrity of the place.

This past Friday I visited the town of Roquemaure which is about a 15 minute drive north of Avignon. The area which borders the Rhone river is dotted with vineyards and fields of sunflowers. Not many sunflower fields where I come from so this was really my first time seeing them up close. What I noticed was that all those sunflowers slowly moving with the breeze seemed to be quietly and curiously staring right at me. The only thing I could do was admire them and stare right back....and of course take a few photos in the process.

Then it was on to Roquemaure which is a town of about 5500 people which sits right next to the Rhone river. This was my first visit there and it seemed like a nice place, busy with people coming and going from the many small shops in and around the center of the town. The area is known for its very fine wine as well as the annual "La Festo di Poutoun" which means the Festival of Lovers and Kissers. The festival takes place every year around St. Valentine's Day and attracts about 20,000 visitors. During the festival many of the area residents are all dressed up in Victorian era costumes.

Friday night we traveled to Avignon and went inside the old walled part of the city. This section of the city is located right next to the Rhone river and is still encircled by walls from the medieval age and within those walls over 12,000 people still reside. From 1309 until 1377 it was essentially the seat of the Catholic church because the pope decided to reside there. Seven popes called Avignon their home until 1378 when the papacy moved back to Rome.

The Festival of Avignon which runs for 3 weeks started the day after our Friday night visit. Already the city was gearing up for its huge arts, culture and theatre festival and many people were already flowing into town.

Saturday we traveled to the villages of Saignon and Roussillon and I'll post some photos of that trip
later in the week.

Sunflowers near Sauveterre France

A sea of yellow and orange....staring right at me.

This guy seemed to be sticking his neck out to get a better look at the guy taking photos.

The "hill".....

2012-07-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Since moving to Vedene Rudy and I have visited what I'll call "the hill" above town numerous times. It's about a 10 minute walk and it provides Rudy the only wide open space to run freely without his leash. The hill itself at the top is probably a half mile long from north to south and another half mile wide east to west with some open spaces and wooded areas as well. The only structure is an old abandoned church and what looks like possibly a bunker left over from World War 2...I'll have to investigate as to what it actually is.

There are small bluffs on the west, north and east of the hill which are the home of a small goat that Rudy and I have seen numerous times. He will come close if I call him but up to this point he won't come right up to me...probably because Rudy is there as well. Of course every time I have taken my camera with me the goat is nowhere to be found but I'm sure we'll meet again and when we do I'll have my camera ready.

I know the weather back home has been extremely hot and dry and here it's been a mixed bag lately. Saturday it was very hot with high humidity but Sunday was a different story. I woke up to rain and much cooler temperatures and Sunday night I even had to wear a jacket when walking the dog because it was windy and cold.

This weekend there is a huge festival in Avignon which we plan on visiting. Evidently there will be lots of music, displays, food and of course a great amount of people flooding into the old walled part of the city. Hopefully I'll also be able to get out soon and snap photos of some of the larger fields of lavender before they're harvested.

3/4's of the way up the hill looking west at Avignon in the distance.

The little bluffline on the north side where I usually see the little goat.

Abandoned church - To the right the hill drops down quickly into Vedene,

Looking north and east - There are literally dozens of small towns and villages from here to Mont Ventoux which rises in the background.

North - in the distance a small mountain range called Dentelles de Montmirail

Vedene - Some olive trees immediately below.

I have to keep Rudy on a VERY short leash when walking the streets of town. Some very narrow sidewalks with cars often zipping by quickly.

Purple fields of lavender.....

2012-06-28T08:35:00.002-07:00

I arrived in France last August just after most of the lavender had been harvested so I knew I would have to wait until this year to get a look at those fields of purple. Since we have moved from the Apt-Villars area we're not as close to where alot of lavender is grown but early in the evening yesterday we made a quick trip to Apt so Alicia could get fitted for new glasses. We did see a few small fields of purple but most are in the higher elevations which we just didn't have time to visit....hopefully this weekend we'll be able to do that.

Small lavender field near Villars

Even more colorful in the shade

We did stop at a couple of those small fields to get some photos and also so I could get my first real scent of lavender in the air. Alicia picked just a few in the first field which gave the car a nice fragrance during our ride home. The second field we stopped at had a small wired fence around it and when I placed my hand on it I received a surprising but mild jolt of electricity. I guess they didn't want anyone picking their lavender. :-)

I think summer has arrived here....

2012-06-22T03:42:00.000-07:00

After mostly mild weather the outdoor thermostat has been turned up a bit around here. Lots of sun the last few days with yesterday topping over 90 degrees and the humidity creeping up as well. The evenings here seem to cool off nicely though and usually a nice breeze to make it even better.

Time flies and its been about 3 weeks since we visited the cherry festival in the little village of Venasque. The streets were full of people walking and browsing the many booths that vendors had set up throughout the town. Many of the locals were dressed in clothes from the past and we were also treated to some musical performances as well. Oh yes....lots and lots of cherries too... :-)

Kiara and Naomie came along with us and they particularly enjoyed "fishing" for cherries in the fountain near the center of town.

Balloons for the kids with a high tech music making machine on the left.

I didn't see any big chunks of cheese but how about these big chunks of spiced bread?

Told you there were LOTS and LOTS of cherries.

"Fishing" for cherries in the village fountain...they made me quit when I caught my limit.

A concert in the center of town.

This late model ice cream truck was extremely popular throughout the day.

When he wasn't making balloons for the kids this guy was cranking out the music and singing some old French songs.

Artwork everywhere.

Need some painted rock tablets?

A moving experience.....

2012-06-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Like most people I have discovered, again, just how fun packing up and moving can be. We had always planned on moving at some point to be closer to Alicia's work and last week we made that move. We now live right in the town of Vedene which is what would be considered a suburb of Avignon. Many items are still unpacked and we're still trying to get situated in our new surroundings.

There are not nearly as many wide open places for Rudy to walk and run freely so for now I have him on a leash when we leave the house. There is a hill above town that has some of those open spaces which we have visited a couple of times so far that he can explore without that restrictive leash. From the hill you can look down on the large city of Avignon to the west and on the east side you can see many smaller towns including Mont Ventoux in the distance.

Of course I will miss the vineyard and the views that our former "rural" home gave us but now I can walk to the store and other small shops that are only a block or two away from our front door. Parking is definitely at a premium with very narrow streets and equally narrow sidewalks. It has been quite a change but we're adapting slowly each day.

A couple of weeks ago we visited the village of Venasque which sits high on a hill surrounded by steep cliffs on 3 sides. Listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France it also boasts a 13th century church which greets you right when you enter the town. Of course it has those classic narrow streets with some nice shops and restaurants along the way. Not an overly tourist type of village but it does gets its fair share of visitors. We happened to be there on a Saturday which was very quiet, but we discovered that a cherry festival was being held the very next day so we decided to return again on Sunday.

This region produces a large amount of grapes and olives but cherries has to be high on that list as well. I know I have consumed my fair share of cherries in that last 2 weeks...actually, MUCH more than my fair share... :-)

I have posted some of the photos from the Saturday trip and will post some photos of the Sunday cherry festival in my next entry.

An old school for garcons (boys)

Cyclists taking a break and quenching their thirst at the fountain in the center of the village. Cyclists from around the world come to this region to test their skills and endurance. In some years it is also where a stage of the Tour de France is held.

13th century church as you enter the village

Old entry into the town

Fountain

Venasque Post Office

Fresh made pottery.....ready for sale.

A nice view from just about every residence in town

Another view from one of the many lookouts around the village