Vineyards checker the valley, laid out in neat squares in the Provencal sun.
Vineyards in the Valley
Vineyards checker the valley, laid out in neat squares in the Provencal sun.
Lavender Art
Besides ocher and vineyards, Provence is also known for it lavender fields. Pictured outside this souvenir shop, is lavender art.
Empty Pool
It was early spring and the pool was being prepared for use, but for the time being it was empty, as was the Euro-chic furniture beside the pool.
From The Village to the Valley
A couple walk with their dog from the village down into the valley on a sleepy Provencale road.
Village Doorways Reprise
Pictured above is the door of a winery in a Provencal village. The portals and doorways are as colourful and beautiful as the landscape.
The Banana Leaf
I was on the balcony of a cafe in a hilltop village, overlooking this lordly mas (Provence manor house) framed by greenery and a vineyard in its back yard. Then it struck me how far south we were. The big green leaf showing in the right of the picture, is the leaf from a huge banana plant. Living in the tropics as I do, I see banana plants all over. They are planted as huge ornamentals. However, it was startling to see it overlooking the vines in Provence.
Bistro Food
A white pepper sauce on a perfect steak with roast potatoes, peas, a side salad and vegetables, washed down with a wonderful Cote de Luberon rose wine. This was just lunch.
Andreas Bocelli in Provence
We saw this poster of Andreas Bocelli. We had these visions of him coming to a Provence village and singing under the stars. We would buy tickets at any cost. As it turns out, the townsfolk were just showing a DVD of his performance.
Slippery When Wet
When I had to work, I had to be connected to the internet, so I would sit all day in a cafe in Bonnieux, connected to Nassau by the internet.At the end of the day, I would walk home, past this sign.
It is surprising to think that the roads are slippery because of the mental picture of eternal sunshine, grapes and vines, and the Mediterranean. However the valley has its days of rain, cold and even snow.
Escargot on the Run
A snail makes a run for the wild instead of the cooking pot. Mmmmm escargot with garlic butter.
The Town Awakens
The town slowly awakens in the morning. A merchant puts out his wares while a villager lights a cigarette and strolls to a cafe for his morning coffee.
Narrow Village Streets
The streets are quite narrow in the hilltop villages. Luckily there is not much traffic. However the tour buses play chicken with you and drive forward forcing you to back up. Once when I held my ground, the bus driver kept coming at me with no intention of stopping. I suppose that if I got out of the car, he would have surrendered.
Fabrics of Provence
The fabrics of Provence are as distinctive as the landscape, the flowers, and the ochre.
A Pair of Windows
One thing that I love about Provence, is how even something as simple as a window is much more than a window. Here we have a pair of them. The smaller one has a plant in the sill, and a planter attached to the building below it. The big window has lovely lace curtains, and the utilitarian clothes line under it, holding a pair of socks and a dish towel.
Remnants of World War II
In an earlier post on Victory Day, I mentioned that France suffered greatly during World War II. Here a street is named after a victim of the Nazi while France was occupied by the Germans.
Waiting for the Master
This dog was patiently waiting for its master in the bushes. It's master was a gardener doing some landscaping work.
Victory Day
The village square is decked out with the French tri-colour to celebrate Victory Day, Armistice in 1945. The French suffered horribly in World War II.
Remnant of an Earlier Time
I am not sure what this structure stored, but it is a remnant from an earlier time.
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