Nimes - Arles - Avignon -Montsalier - Isle Sur La Sorgue - Gordes - Senaque Abbey - Rossillon - Sault - Manosque - Marseille
In search of sunflowers and lavender...
Provence in southern France is every bit of the french countryside you could ever imagine. Picture the setting of the sun perched high, shining very brightly in the cloudless sky. The occasional wind blows stirring up the sand on the ground. The ground is dry and sandy, reflective of the weather. It made me wonder if it ever rains here. Set within the Vaucluse Valley, this was where we started our journey. From Nimes. We flew in early on Saturday morning and after collecting our car, we set off into the countryside keeping in mind our agenda- to search for fields of countless sunflowers and rolling lavender.
The first few fields we came across had sunflowers all with their heads bowed low signifying they were dying away which was sad. We did ample research before this trip and we had the lavender fields marked on our map but sunflowers would be more of a luck thing because we couldn't find any specific area except that they are around the Arles - Avignon route.
Quek our trusty driver drove us to Pont du Gard first to see the ancient Roman aquaduct. We spent about 1.5h here under the hot sun, overlooking a deep blue river where people were swimming and the cool blue water looked so tempting to us.
Lunch was at Arles which was a small town where Van Gogh lived for a while and painted the famous Cafe La Nuit. We walked around this small town and left for Avignon to meet Alicia's friend Flora who's in Bordeux for 2 weeks studying intensive French and some wine appreciation course. She drove 7h straight from Bordeux to meet us in ulu Montsalier where our B&B was.
In and around Arles
left: the famous Cafe La Nuit
En route Avignon, that was when we spotted the most beautiful sunflower field ever and we were all squealing with delight as we ran into the field. After cameras clicked non stop for 10minutes, we spotted the farmer coming out and we thought he was here to chase us away. We were so wrong. This french farmer was so happy we were there to admire his farm and tried to talk to us. In french. Unfortunately, we didn't understand him at all but he continued explaining to us happily. So cute. He showed us which area had the biggest and most beautiful sunflowers so we could take more photos. As a parting gift, he even gave us a home grown melon!
Montsalier
I kept getting this little sleepy village confused with Monpellier. Montsalier is this extremely small village in the valley with a population of 100 people(!) We stayed at Maison du Karolyn whose owner Karolyn was originally from England. Very authentic B&B with a breakfast setting so beautiful... I love the breakfast setting so much!
Isle Sur La Sorgue
We didn't explore much this town coz we spent the whole 3h having lunch on Sunday afternoon. Flora suggested that since French are known for their culinary skills, we should try a Michelin star restaurant.. so we made a booking at Le Vivier. whooo... the food was so good and with the alfresco dining, the 3h was very well spent just enjoying a gastronomical affair. The chef Patrick introduced the dishes to us when they were served and had a short crash course on red wine, courtesy of Flora.
Gordes and Senaque Abbey
Gordes is this village perched on a cliff and voted one of the most beautiful villages in Provence in the Luberon district of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur. We did a quick drive through it since time was limited and we wanted to visit the all famous lavender field in front of the abbey in Senaque Abbey. When we reached there, we were disappointed to find that the abbey's closed on Sunday and so just took some shots outside. Very touristy I'd say and I didn't like it too much. That said, I'm always intrigued by abbeys and convents, and I found out that monks still live in this abbey and grow lavender and tend honey bees for their livelihood.
Roussillon
This is another village voted one of the most beautiful in Provence region. The main distinction of this village is the mineral ochre which gives it a bright orange color. We explored the back alleys and I love taking shots of the beautiful windows and doors of Provence. Alicia & Quek thought it's too touristy but I thought it was okay. Well, summer in Provence + tourists all go together I suppose!
Sault
Alicia said we have to go to Sault coz it is the "capital of all lavender fields in Provence" so we chose to go Sault even though Karolyn told us there is a market worth visiting in Folcaquier in the next village. Indeed.. along the way to Sault, we passed by countless lavender fields and the most beautiful one was near St Christol with a stone shed in the middle of it. It was so so beautiful and we spent a long time taking photos and walking thru it... it blew us away. And ironically when we reached Sault, we just had lunch and left for Manosque, where L'occitane factory outlet is!
Manosque
Seriously, I don't know what is here coz we only had one aim in mind... the L'occitane factory outlet! Quek drove a long long way, cheong-ing from Sault coz we had a plane to catch at Marseille. Guess what.. when we finally reached, the supposedly factory outlet looks like any other L'occitane boutique we see anywhere which we doubted would be very cheap. In the end we found out it's only a 10% discount off the retail price in France. hrmph.. disappointing.
Although it was a short 3 day trip, it has been like a dream come true for me. I never thought I'd be able to see such beautiful fields of sunflowers smiling at me, and endless rows of lavender with their smell lingering in the air when the wind blows. It was truly amazing. And even it's coming to 2 weeks since we came back, we all look back with fondness as we talk about our trip, ever so excitedly. This is one of the few trips which has such a wonderful impact on us. =)
More photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029217&id=1094966172&l=d9cc22206e
In search of sunflowers and lavender...
Provence in southern France is every bit of the french countryside you could ever imagine. Picture the setting of the sun perched high, shining very brightly in the cloudless sky. The occasional wind blows stirring up the sand on the ground. The ground is dry and sandy, reflective of the weather. It made me wonder if it ever rains here. Set within the Vaucluse Valley, this was where we started our journey. From Nimes. We flew in early on Saturday morning and after collecting our car, we set off into the countryside keeping in mind our agenda- to search for fields of countless sunflowers and rolling lavender.The first few fields we came across had sunflowers all with their heads bowed low signifying they were dying away which was sad. We did ample research before this trip and we had the lavender fields marked on our map but sunflowers would be more of a luck thing because we couldn't find any specific area except that they are around the Arles - Avignon route.
Quek our trusty driver drove us to Pont du Gard first to see the ancient Roman aquaduct. We spent about 1.5h here under the hot sun, overlooking a deep blue river where people were swimming and the cool blue water looked so tempting to us.
Lunch was at Arles which was a small town where Van Gogh lived for a while and painted the famous Cafe La Nuit. We walked around this small town and left for Avignon to meet Alicia's friend Flora who's in Bordeux for 2 weeks studying intensive French and some wine appreciation course. She drove 7h straight from Bordeux to meet us in ulu Montsalier where our B&B was.
In and around Arles
left: the famous Cafe La Nuit
En route Avignon, that was when we spotted the most beautiful sunflower field ever and we were all squealing with delight as we ran into the field. After cameras clicked non stop for 10minutes, we spotted the farmer coming out and we thought he was here to chase us away. We were so wrong. This french farmer was so happy we were there to admire his farm and tried to talk to us. In french. Unfortunately, we didn't understand him at all but he continued explaining to us happily. So cute. He showed us which area had the biggest and most beautiful sunflowers so we could take more photos. As a parting gift, he even gave us a home grown melon!
Montsalier
I kept getting this little sleepy village confused with Monpellier. Montsalier is this extremely small village in the valley with a population of 100 people(!) We stayed at Maison du Karolyn whose owner Karolyn was originally from England. Very authentic B&B with a breakfast setting so beautiful... I love the breakfast setting so much!
Isle Sur La Sorgue
We didn't explore much this town coz we spent the whole 3h having lunch on Sunday afternoon. Flora suggested that since French are known for their culinary skills, we should try a Michelin star restaurant.. so we made a booking at Le Vivier. whooo... the food was so good and with the alfresco dining, the 3h was very well spent just enjoying a gastronomical affair. The chef Patrick introduced the dishes to us when they were served and had a short crash course on red wine, courtesy of Flora.
Gordes and Senaque Abbey
Gordes is this village perched on a cliff and voted one of the most beautiful villages in Provence in the Luberon district of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur. We did a quick drive through it since time was limited and we wanted to visit the all famous lavender field in front of the abbey in Senaque Abbey. When we reached there, we were disappointed to find that the abbey's closed on Sunday and so just took some shots outside. Very touristy I'd say and I didn't like it too much. That said, I'm always intrigued by abbeys and convents, and I found out that monks still live in this abbey and grow lavender and tend honey bees for their livelihood.
Roussillon
This is another village voted one of the most beautiful in Provence region. The main distinction of this village is the mineral ochre which gives it a bright orange color. We explored the back alleys and I love taking shots of the beautiful windows and doors of Provence. Alicia & Quek thought it's too touristy but I thought it was okay. Well, summer in Provence + tourists all go together I suppose!
Sault
Alicia said we have to go to Sault coz it is the "capital of all lavender fields in Provence" so we chose to go Sault even though Karolyn told us there is a market worth visiting in Folcaquier in the next village. Indeed.. along the way to Sault, we passed by countless lavender fields and the most beautiful one was near St Christol with a stone shed in the middle of it. It was so so beautiful and we spent a long time taking photos and walking thru it... it blew us away. And ironically when we reached Sault, we just had lunch and left for Manosque, where L'occitane factory outlet is!
Manosque
Seriously, I don't know what is here coz we only had one aim in mind... the L'occitane factory outlet! Quek drove a long long way, cheong-ing from Sault coz we had a plane to catch at Marseille. Guess what.. when we finally reached, the supposedly factory outlet looks like any other L'occitane boutique we see anywhere which we doubted would be very cheap. In the end we found out it's only a 10% discount off the retail price in France. hrmph.. disappointing.
Although it was a short 3 day trip, it has been like a dream come true for me. I never thought I'd be able to see such beautiful fields of sunflowers smiling at me, and endless rows of lavender with their smell lingering in the air when the wind blows. It was truly amazing. And even it's coming to 2 weeks since we came back, we all look back with fondness as we talk about our trip, ever so excitedly. This is one of the few trips which has such a wonderful impact on us. =)
More photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029217&id=1094966172&l=d9cc22206e
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