Provence

Well it has been a while since our last blog and we have got behind unfortunately - really getting into the swing of being on holiday!

Anyway, after Burgundy we drove to Province, specifically Saint Remy. Initially our impression of the Province region was not positive. It appeared miskempt, scrubby, trees were sparse and it wasn't particularly picturesque. However during the course of our 3-4 days in the region we did see some very beautiful places which we will share with you in this blog.

We got to Saint Remy and our lovely abode, Chateau de Roussan. This place is amazing! It is a historic site and has been in the same family since the 1800's. They had been leasing it out to someone who was running it as a hotel but went through a legal process to get it back because the leasee wasn't looking after it. They did a massive renovation project on it and reopened in April and are trying to build the business again. The place was so tastefully and artfully decorated and the service was fantastic. We were on the 3rd floor with a view over the rustic and romantic gardens and stream running through the property.

Chateau du Roussan

Our room at Chateau du Roussan

Once we had dropped off our bags we headed off to the local golf course at Les Baux. David playing 9 holes on a lovely wee course with another guy, Christopher, who had recently moved to Moussane (about 15mins away) and was working in a pizzeria that he claimed made the best pizzas in the world.

David playing golf at Les Baux golf course

We went up to the village of Les Baux which is an old village carved out of the rocks on the mountain. Apparently it is one of the most visited places in France by tourists. It was 5.30pm by the time we got there so most of the tourists had gone, so we got to wander the streets in relative peace. There are very few residents in the town now and most of the buildings are shops peddling food and other wares that tourists must absolutely have!

Les Baux town at sunset

We did fall victim to one of the shops that sold only biscuits and chocolates! It was amazing. We couldn't resist buying a few....just to try. I thought they looked and smelled better than what they tasted.

Les Baux lolly & biscuit shop

It was a beautiful time to be in the town as the sun was setting and we got to see an amazing sunset over the hills and the land below. Very romantic!

Les Baux region at sunset

The Les Baux and Saint Remy regions have many olive tree farms, vineyards and other produce. The photo below is of the general region from the Les Baux town.

Les Baux & St Remy region

We then headed back to the golf club for dinner as it had been recommended by Christopher, and we were not disappointed. The food was fantastic and the vino with it. Once again great service in an elegant and relaxing atmosphere. The french are really classy.

The next day we headed to Mousanne for lunch to try the best pizza in the world.......and Christopher was right. The pizza was extraordinary and massive! We still managed to finish it though, you couldn't leave one scrap of it behind. Mousanne town itself was really lovely too and we enjoyed a wee walk around. It was a Sunday and many of the locals were enjoying a sunfilled afternoon in the town square. It is wonderful how the Europeans congregate like this. enjoying their city and time spent with friends and family.

We then headed to Arles which was recommended in the Lonely Planet (some crap recommendations and major gaps in the France book) and was fairly average. However it was the place that Vincent Van Gogh painted many of his paintings, particularly the "Stary night along the Rhone". It was nice visiting a gallery exhibiting some local artists celebrating Van Gogh.

Rhone river near where Vincent Van Gogh painted "Starry night over the Rhone"

The highlight in Arles was a shop that sold lots and lots of chookies! We thought of you Lynn and this photo is for you.

Shop of chookies

The next day we went to Camargue along the south coast of France. The river mouth is a huge wetland, some of which is protected in a national park although I don't think they have the same level of protection as national parks in NZ as there was a lot of land reclamation and horses grazing in the wetlands. We went and sunbathed on the beach for a wee while with an ice cream which was a bit of a novelty. We were entertained by the topless, tanned and ageing patrons also visiting the beach! No photos of this sorry.Although we did get a photo of a guy in a dress getting changed on the beach.....

No comment necessary!

After that excitement we went and chilled out at the Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau which was a beautiful wetland home to many resident and migratory birds including pink flamingos, herons, royal spoonbills, various ducks and other interesting birds that we didn't see. We mostly ogled the pink flamingo's of which there were many and they were funny to watch and strikingly beautiful.

Pink flamingo in flight



Pink flamingo flock





David at Parc Ornithologique



Nadine at Parc Ornithologique


We decided to drive 1 hr to Avignon to see the Palais de Royal at sunset and have dinner in the city. Avignon was the home of various Popes when there was a split with Rome. When the Church tidied up the power struggles Avignon remained as Papal city until reclaimed by France in the French revolution. There was a chap playing beautiful music that reverberated across the city square and was a sound track accompanying the wonderful sunset. The sunset and the dinner did not disappoint us and we had a really lovely evening in this romantic city.



David in front of the Palais de Papes




Palais de Papes at night

The next day we headed south to Aix en Province where David played 18 very disappointing holes at the Pont de Royal (do not recommend this place to golfers) and where I spent 2 hours trying to find our hotel, Chateau L'Arc (do not recommend this place either as a place to stay, it is very very tired). We went into Aix en Province city for dinner and went to a restuarant that Lonely Planet recommended at Le Formal whcih was fantastic. The food as 'acrobatic'! Tasty and very interesting cuisine.




Entree at Le Formal

 The next day we headed off to Grasse where we were quite excited to go after all the recommendations we had heard. We were imagining fields of lavendar and other aromatic herbs that they use in the perfumes made in Grasse, only to be sorely disappointed to find a dirty, noisey and crowded city. Not a field in sight. So we cancelled our accommodation in Grasse and headed for Italy!!!
Photos of the day:

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