A taste of Provence with my beloved family... France, June 2009

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Components: Edo, Laura (Young forties), Mark (15), Luke (11) An account of a journey of 2 days and ½ (3 nights) may seem little but maybe can be useful for those who want to go over there and skip the visit Avignon (there must spend one day). In any case the reading will definitely quick and painless, allowing grammar. We venture into the June 14 trip after accompanying Marco (15 years) at its 3rd dive in Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice) 17.00. Duration: 3h. Our headquarters have attended our previous visit, is the Clos de Jonquerettes Buy at 10 km from Avignon. It is a B & B run by Francois and Rene Dubuy. An exquisite French couple. The B & B has a pool and courtesy of Francoise. I recommend it if you like peace and good breakfasts and conversations in French and Italian. It works like this: we talked about her in Italian and French. Funny. Obviously if chewed French is much better. However Jonquerettes to arrive at 20, regards the spouses Dubuy and go to Isle sur la Sorgue for dinner (10 km. From Jonquerettes). Isle is a beautiful country crossed by the Sorgue, interspersed with canals and windmills. Romantic that more could not. We, however, longer looking for a restaurant that pastoral situations. We eat on the river to Bellevue. At this time there is so many people place easily. In July / August is definitely worse. After dinner everyone home tired like marathon runners. We stand by Mark 6 and has 2 dives on the rump. June 15 Senanque-Gordes-Roussilion Breakfast at 9 am (life should be taken calmly) with milk / coffee / tea / chocolate + yoghurt and jams made by Francoise, fresh cheese. A delight. Today we start from the Abbey of Senanque which we follow signs for Isle / Gordes. This is our 2nd trip to Provence we had already visited the abbey in April a few years ago. We returned to see this place with the flowering of lavender. That, however, was not flowering?. Not much, anyway. The place is very charming. The abbey is located at the bottom of a valley in a sea of lavender. You can not, I think, come to Provence without a stop in Senanque. After 30/40 picture you heading to Gordes. Here they shot the exteriors for the film "A Good Year." The film is a cornerstone of cinema but makes you want to come here to see if everything is just so idyllic. That's right. If people are romantic Provence is home. If you like Bruce Willis, there may be a chronic depression! Returning to Gordes is a village perched on a rocky spur tuttp alleys and squares with a tree, usually a plane. To shoot aimlessly, slowly. One of the most beautiful villages in France. I have not seen many deals but so far 1st place in my ranking. Lunchtime. We decide to resist (breakfast has done his duty) to move to Roussilion, another village not far away and reported from Gordes. Can not miss. The road runs alongside some really beautiful homes, with great care. We arrive at Roussilion without the country has expressed our view. Unlike Gordes exhibiting from afar her profile. Paid parking (3 €, I challenge anyone to find free parking at less than 2km from the village) and we head to visit the most beautiful of our trip. At first little bar buy sandwiches and drinks we consume under the trees in the first place we encounter. Roussilion, a name, a color. This town is all reddish. We are in the land where you extracted the ocher. Not even an hour at the summit and gave Gordes, inexorably, the scepter of the best French village visited. I realize to be filthy honey, but this country can not leave us insensitive. You walk in silence (they say poetry in high season goes down the drain), red walls and lavender bushes. You might be fascinated by Pina Fantozzi's wife. The heat, there is, is mitigated by a nice breeze. Beneath you see the legendary Mont Ventoux, we chat with Canadians very nice then we are heading towards the last surprise of the day, the Path of ocher. For a few euros (2.5 and I think kids free) becomes a unique experience. Two paths, one long and one shorter (obviously) allows you to admire the spectacle of ocher. All shades of red and yellow earth and walls with real towers in what was a quarry. We have made the longest stretch that requires no more than ½ hour. The heat you feel when you exit the forest but it is a sacrifice that the board really. Anyone who has seen Cappadocia in Turkey will find a similarity with that of the landscape of fairy chimneys, very little more. Back at the base to allow Mark & Luke to wallow a bit '(2 hours!) In the pool and we make a good nap (actually just me, Laura was awake). For dinner we went to Avignon in the Place de l'Horloge. Nothing to report except the desolation of the few people around. PS: Today was the birthday of Laura. Congratulations! June 16 Arles - Les Baux de Provence romantic day yesterday, today: history. Come in Arles. From Jonquerettes hour drive and we are poor in this city dominated from the amphitheater. It is perfectly preserved in spite of the Middle Ages we have built in and under the arches then an entire village razed to bring to light evidence of Roman architecture. Today the arena fights are held. People continue to die here. At least now it's the bulls. One step at a time: first we were dying gladiators. After the amphitheater, the theater here there is work of fiction. The ramparts are intact while the stage is reduced to two columns. Lunch of pancakes and head towards Les Baux-de-Provence. Along the road skirting the Abbey Montmajour: an imposing building. Enter (7 €, children free). We admire the majesty of the building, more like a fortress than a monastery. From the tower, 26 meters high, is a beautiful view (I'm not risen: tired, too tired). Le-Baux be a nice place. Perched on a rocky outcrop. The name is derived from bauxite, stone extracted from these parts. We came here, at least I, full of beautiful expectations. The misfortune wanted, or maybe it's always like that, we imbattessimo visitors in caravans. The village is virtually deserted throughout a series of alleys. Overlooked by the ruins of the castle.
Here we saw the launch of a projectile from a catapult perfectly reconstructed. The war at one time had to be taken calmly, to launch a stone needed six men and one hour of time! You had the courtesy to ask the enemy does not move (but I did it, not was stupid!). Back to Basics a bit 'disappointed Baux which was praised by the guide and also Francoise. There is a pool that lies ahead. For dinner we went to The Bercail, Avignon, island in the middle of the Rhone. We ate at the riverside Braserade, grilled meat. The peculiarity lies in the grid: you bring it on the table and the meat you cook yourself. Recommend it (a 25 € per person). June 17 Pont du Gard - Uzes Last day to return home. We welcome and take a photo with Francoise and we are moving not towards home, not yet. We want to see Pont-du-Gard.