Moustiers Sainte-Marie

Located in Haute Provence, Moustiers Sainte-Marie has been given the title of Un Des Plus Beaux Village de France (one of The Most Beautiful Villages of France). It's a great starting point if you want to explore the Gorges du Verdon, which means a drive on a very very scary road!  We did not drive it this trip, but heard that the road had been converted to one way for part of the drive, which would make it a little less harrowing.  When we did it the last time we were here, I wasn't sure our marriage was going to survive!  I was repeating   " I think you only have a few inches more on this side, so you better move over!"  And Camera Guy kept saying

"I know how to drive...!" ...as he white knuckled around  a very precarious curve where we had no idea if anything was coming in the opposite direction. I knew he was freaked out driving when I noticed he hadn't blinked for about 10 minutes.  I am sure you get the picture:) We now laugh about it but there were times I thought we were  going to go over the edge of the road like in the movies - the drive is not for the faint of heart.   The scenery is spectacular so it  is worth it.  This time we settled for a relaxing afternoon in Moustiers Sainte-Marie!  

The village is packed full of Faïenceries shops ( "faïence" ceramics or Faience Pottery) - not my style, but very pretty. There are terrace cafés for relaxing and a fair number of restaurants.  The village has narrow medieval streets and is nice to walk around.

If leaping off cliffs into space with a flimsy contraption on your back is your thing, this seems to be the place to do it.  Above the village there were so  many hang gliders. They were beautiful floating over us!

Ceramics Everywhere! 

Do you see the ceramic insects on the wall below?  Those are Cicadas also called Cicales in France.  They are widely recognized, mainly due to their large size and unique sound.  They are sooooo loud!

By the way, they do not bite or sting in a true sense, but may mistake a person's arm or other part of their body for a tree or plant limb and attempt to feed. hahaha. It can be painful if they attempt to pierce a person's skin with it, but it is unlikely to cause other harm. It is very rare and only happens when they are allowed to rest on a person's body for an extended amount of time, so don't carry them around,  just watch them:)

The village sits on a rushing mountain stream with a dramatic rocky canyon.   It was quite dry when we were there, so it was amazing to see the amount of water flowing down this stream and from the mountain.  We were wondering if it was a man made gigantic  fountain with the water recycled for the dramatic effect...but that was just crazy talk! 

Me and Camera Guy about to go for dinner.

We had dinner at La Cascade restaurant, built on a bridge right over the stream that flows down from the mountain. It's a dramatic location and the food was pretty good as well. 

And my lovely dessert...

A demain

Penny

The Photographer's Wife

We set the alarm for 6:00 so we would be on our way by 6:30 to view the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. This iconic place, built in 1148 by Cistercian monks is probably one of the most photographed spots in all of Provence. It is set in a valley and framed with beautiful lavender fields. The plan was to get to Gordes by the time the sun cleared the mountain. We got there about 7:45 and waited ...and waited.  We counted the rows of lavender...the light is on row 4, we wait a little longer....on 5 now. It now hit a corner of the roof. Where is a Tim Hortons when you need one?  Cars stop and people jump out and take photos quickly of the abbey, but we continue to wait. Camera Guy says "not yet", and we wait a little longer. 

Oh look, the light hit the steeple...it's now 8:39 and the light covers most of the roof. Maybe by by 9:15 we'll be enjoying that long ago promised coffee in a cafe in Gordes. Camera Guy gets the car in the right position, climbs up on the roof and makes this beautiful image.

We found that cafe and enjoyed coffee and pain au chocolate and planned the rest of our day. I think Camera Guy will be waiting for me now, as I shop the markets. 

À demain.

Penny

Roussillon...Explosion of Colour!

According to Camera Guy, Roussillon has a magic light about it ...which means we return to this place each time we are in France.  The village is a little touristy, but it is definitely worth a visit.  Pay for the entrance to the trail  (2.50 Euros). Even if you don't do the whole walk, you will see some spectacular views that you would miss otherwise.

Check out the video below...

À bientôt!

Penny

The Circus...France style!

Circus signs were posted all over Banon when we drove through, so when our neighbours,  Linda and Paul, from California, mentioned that they were going to check it out, we decided to join them.

Camera Guy and I were the first in line - ok we were the first ones there.  The circus was starting at 6:30 and at 6:15 we still didn't see another person.  Goats were roaming around as were llamas, horses, ponies and even some cats.  Were there going to be trained cats since there were no lions???? Dan caught one of the stars in mid-poop!

At 6:25 Linda  and Paul showed up and the tent opened at 6:30.  We splurged on the most expensive seats, 14 Euros with plastic chairs ringside!!! There were about 60 people in attendance and the show was unlike any I had ever seen before.  The animal trainer was also the juggler who was also the ring gymnast and also the clown. He was actually pretty talented.  

The female tightrope walker was a little tense as she made her way across the wire, a death defying height of about 2 1/2 feet. 

She seemed like she really didn't want to be there.  Camera Guy said she looked like she wanted to run away and join the real world:)  She also had other jobs - like sweeping up the dirt in the ring and folding and unfolding the cover for the center ring ...several times. She also was the hula hoop star who managed about 3 rotations of the hoop before it hit the ground. 

The children in attendance had a great time and watching them was very entertaining...we were the only adults in the audience without children...

and we had a lot of fun too. This was rural France at its finest. We love these unique opportunities that present themselves when travelling. What will we stumble upon tomorrow?

Lavender Fields Forever

Provence is well known for its lavender, it's everywhere! And we're lucky to be here at the peak of the season. Check out our video:

Our afternoon in Paris

From Toronto I flew to Zurich where I connected to Paris. Dan met me and off we went  to our hotel in Montmartre.  After dropping off my things, we took the Metro to Notre Dame and walked  over one of the Paris lock bridges. Thousands of locks line the bridge...yes romance is very alive in Paris! 

The story goes that the couple writes their names on the padlock then toss the key into the Seine to demonstrate their true love.  The only way the love can be broken is to find they key to unlock the lock.  Good luck!  There are thousands of keys at the bottom of the Seine... Dan and I bought a lock today!

There's always interesting performances by musicians, buskers, mimes etc when walking around Paris. A great jazz little quartet had  our attention for a while.

Dinner  in Montmartre...and a early night.  Tomorrow we take the train to Avignon, rent a car and head over to Forcalquier where we will spend a week.

À demain
Penny

oooh la la – Croissants, Lavender, the Eiffel tower, Wine Cheese... Love is in the air !!!

Dan and his daughter Meredith left for Paris on Sunday.  I am plugging away at work and finishing off things that neeeeed to get done before I leave - you know how it is.  They chatted yesterday with me from their hotel in Paris and are having a great time.  They went to the top of the Eiffel Tower Monday night and walked a gazillion miles around Paris yesterday.  Meredith convinced her dad that an evening bicycle tour around Paris was a good idea, but I'm not sure Dan agreed. Still off they went - fun but a little hectic!

They also have a small private evening tour booked for the Louvre to see some of the highlights there.

I leave tomorrow and unfortunately will cross paths with Meredith in the air.  She leaves at 9:00 AM Friday and I arrive at 10:00.  There is something very romantic about my handsome husband greeting me at the airport in Paris!  Maybe I should run to the washroom and change into something before I see him...what shall I wear?

À bientôt ...

Penny