Provence continued.

First Provence challenge:  Getting into your road with your vehicle, no matter how small the vehicle....

When we first arrived at the entrance to the town of Menerbes, we thought we were heading up a pedestrian path, as it was so narrow it seemed inconceivable to be for a vehicle. There was also a large barricade saying 'Aucune Entrée: No Entry. After much gesticulating, and us frantically pointing to our map to a nosy old biddy, we convinced her that we indeed needed to pass through, as it was our route to our cottage and the barricade was removed.

Posted below are some of my favourite shots taken, that for me, is Provence.

These are the town's little winding 'streets'...

Us trying to manouver our way down our little 'street'.

It turned out to be Market day on our arrival - so the road leading to the church square (which was the one we were trying to get to), was closed off for vehicles.


 
We eventually managed pass the barricade and make our way up the little road, simply to encounter the sharpest hairpin bend, that lead into what looked like a mere footpath! We had finally found the little street our cottage was located on - but were very unsure as to how we were going to get the car through the archway and up the road. Thank heavens for little Peugots!


By flattening our car's wing mirrors, we managed to just squeeze through and down the lane to our little house.

Each morning we woke up to the most gorgeous views of terracotta rooptops,  a valley  and the sound of the little church bell as it struck each hour on the hour.  The sun sat high in the sky till late in the evening and we welcomed the twilight that marked the day drawing to a gentle close and the break in the heat that it would bring.  Evenings were spent savouring bottles of wine from the local vineyards whilst watching the little swallows chasing each other in sheer delight in the twilight sky, with the cicadas chirping endlessly all around us. Heaven.                               


                              Views from our bedroom

 

View from our terrace 

Scenes around our little town

The perfect place to cool off with a chilled glass of wine - heaven.

Needless to say - bellies were permanently fully loaded with all the fresh produce the local shops had to offer - and we filled ourselves with as much cheeses, pastries, baguettes and nougat we could manage. So many things to try, so little time.



Each day was spent whizzing down the windiest little lanes connecting all the villages, in our little micro car.  The quest:   to find yet another food and antiques' market, for a good old rummage.  Excercise was found in the form of trudging up hill after hill to enter these towns on foot, me armed with my camera and basket, ready to rifle through all the beautiful old linens, fabrics and bric a brac that we would find. 

We explored our area, the Vauclause and the Luberon Valley, and visited towns like Coustellet (where the Lavender Museum is to be found),  Gordes, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Cavailon (know for their melons), Lacoste (where you'll find the remains of the Chateau of the Marquis de Sade), L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (true treasure trove for the antique lover, Bonnieux and we journeyed way north to Mont Ventoux and the town of Vaison-la-Romaine - known for the incredible amount of Roman Ruins. 

Sights & towns throughout Provence

Roman ruins at Vaison la Romain

Re

Lazy afternoons enjoying a game of boules

We found the vineyard that played host to the beautiful movie, "The Good year".   This vineyard has been producing organic wines for decades already and is light and delicious.  

Fields of lavender

We enjoyed all the wines from this region.  Many were simple blends, at affordable prices from the local market - but the reds were soft, light and extremely quaffable, with the white and the rose's being refreshing and simply delicious.  We did not encounter one bad vintage from the Luberon valley.

Only problem I did encounter at each of these markets, was that of the obligatory baguette that I always seemed to purchase too early on my arrival, and would then spend all morning apologising to those around me for hitting them with my dangerous, yet very tasty weapon.

The final challenge we encountered on our final evening, was that of how to fit all our new purchases into our luggage.  We wanted to take home all of Provence!  It truly was like playing a game of Tetris...Why we never considered couriering, we still do not know, but next time I shall have my courier pre-booked and waiting for me.

As sad as it was to leave our little swallows (and with the realisation that we would have to start wearing  watches again - no church bell announcing the hour on the hour), I think had I stayed even one more day, I would have had to check myself in as excess baggage....

  

Au Revoir....x