Looking from the hilltop to the valley

(click for larger image)

This is the view from the ruined church at the top of the village of Eygalieres down into the valley.  Rising in the background are the hills surrounding Mont Ventoux.

Ocher Cliff

An ocher cliff overlooks a vineyard in the valley in Provence.

Over Hill and Dale

Looking over the vines on hill and dale, one can see across the valley into the hills beyond. To the north, outside the range of this photograph, is Mont Ventoux.

Vineyards in the Valley

Vineyards checker the valley, laid out in neat squares in the Provencal sun.

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.

Cat Scenery

A cat lounges in an unused flower bed atop a balcony overlooking the valley.

Poppies in the Valley

A field of wild poppies frames the valley.

Rows and Rows of Vines

Rows and rows of vines stretch across the valley, framed by cherry trees.

View From the Terrace

The panorama above was my view for hours and days at a time when I sat at a terrace cafe perched on a hillside, writing software and eating a Savoyard pizza. A Savoyard pizza is a woodfire pizza with bacon and potatoes on it. It is the best tasting pizza that I have ever had in my life.

Over the cherry trees

There is nother sweeter than being surrounded by a cherry orchard while looking over the patchwork quilt of farms in the valley. The birdsong is wonderful as well, because it is not only the humans that like the cherries. If you click on the pic to enlarge it, you can see the ripe cherries on the trees.

I stand in orchard where the farmer cannot see me, and I gorge myself on the delectable fruits.

View Across the Valley

This is the view of the valley from our patio. The trees in the foreground are cherry trees.