Sunshine and Warmth
When someone speaks of the "South of France" it (at least in me) always conjures up images of regal sunny resorts clinging to cliffs along the Mediterranean Sea. It is James Bond in tails sitting at a Baccarat table staring down a bad guy.
I now realize that although the seaside villages in the south of France run the gamut from industrial to posh, it is the little villages of Provence that hold real allure. And that is exactly where our cycling adventure took us.
We assembled in Paul Cezanne's beloved Aix-en-Provence (pronounced "X on Pro-vonce"), where we enjoyed exploring shops and our hotel spa.
The following morning we relocated to St. Remy de Provence. We made it our home base for the first 3 days of cycling.
Atelier de Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence
(with samples of his props)
Cezanne's Modest Studio
(with large north facing windows and a narrow door used to move oversized canvasses in / out)
Market Abundance in Aix-en-Provnce
Buying Sunflowers
And while there we shopped for fresh produce in the markets, enjoyed a dinner in the home of a local chef, learned about Vincent Van Gogh's highly productive time spent here (at an asylum that still serves patients today).
We rode up the mountain to Les Baux to see its amazing castle and the stunning Carriers de Lumieres light show. We learned about western Europe's largest river delta region; the Camargue. We tasted local foods and sampled the delicate olive oil produced here.
Les Baux
Les Baux's Abandoned Limestone Quarry
(home of the Carrieres de Lumieres light show)
Click here for a video link with a preview of the Carrieres presentation (you'll first have to wait out the ad). Then go full screen, turn up the volume and enjoy.
Carriere's Van Gogh Imagery
A Dazzling Immersive Experience
A Japanese Themed Show Was Also Presented
Seafood of the day at Hostellerie de la Reine Jeanne
The Unique Olive Orchards
The region's olive orchards are unique. When a killing frost claimed nearly all of the regions olive trees in 1956 they were cut down to leave the stump at ground level. From these stumps multiple trees have sprouted hence the 3-4 trees clustered around the stump of each legacy tree.
Roadboy's Travels © 2019
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