jamestravels

Pernes-les-Fontaines was our 'home town'- it wasn't until the last day that we realized we hadn't explored this medieval gem. It is famous for its 32 fountains, most of which we saw, and its very impressive bike musem, which was an unexpected delight! (Well for the boys in the group anyway) Debbie was looking for the all-white lycra outfits on display... The view from the church tower was very impressive- what looked like flat featureless countryside turned out to be anything but! Our 'gite' proved to be my masterstroke- I held firm despite Rhonda's concerns that it was too old, too far away, too good to be true, etc. Always trust your gut instincts and go with the first thing you see! We will always have fond memories of this place, its very stylish owner, Aude, and the swimming pool. Our last meal in Pernes- as usual Debbie got the best meal again (and the best wine as well).

Mont Ventoux: the largest free-standing mountain in France. Those pedants out there who are scratching their brow and tut-tutting this fact: yes, Mont Blanc is the highest in Europe but is part of a range of mountains. Ventoux is basically a big lump of limestone sticking up in the middle of Provence- the locals call it the 'Giant'. A few years ago the Tour de France went up and over- those who watched might remember this big hill with a cream/white top, even in the middle of summer. It is just the limestone rocks which shine like snow in the sun. As you can see in the second pic, great heights affect people differently. Rhonda needed a pole to grab on to, Tony went looking for food. He returned with an enormous bag of jubes from the highest lolly shop in France. The third pic is our lunch stop- a very important part of the Provencal life (well we thought so, anyway). This is at the spot where the cyclists come whizzing down at breakneck speeds after taking an hour or so to cli...

Gordes: a classic hilltop village Well, we wanted to see what all the fuss was about! Gordes on Market day was alive with food, drink, jewellery, every sort of trinket and bauble AND and a great Eritean cappuchino! Tony rated it amongst his 5 best ever. In some ways these places have not changed for hundreds of years- but then you see a satellite dish or an internet cafe.... Debbie is shown here being consoled by Rhonda because she wasn't allowed to buy a white top, or a white backpack (I think) St Remy en Provence was our next destination. Brigitte (or was that Bridget?) our GPS lady from South Africa proved up to the task of a very complicated run through the countryside. Funny, it didn't look so tricky on the map! She had a bad habit of telling us to turn at a roundabout when she actually meant to go straight through! There were some terse words spoken, on both sides. There was a market day in the town (how surprising) and we bought cheese (see below), nougat, fruit (one of ...

This is Vaison la Romain : Roman ruins from the 2nd century, brought back to life for the tourists, of which there are many, mercifully none with American accents complaing that the streets are too narrow and the seats in the Theatre too hard. If you look very carefully you can see a couple of Aussie sheilas hiding behind the columns. Tony has a bad habit of spoiling all my good shots- this is yet another example! At least Debbie tried to act the part. We also spent a day at the Fountain of Vaucluse, a natural spring that should be the 8th wonder of the World. The authorities have sent teams down to find its origins, but still don't know where its source is. As you can see it has a fair flow, and this is late summer when it is at its lowest! It forms the Sorgue River, a major tributary of the Rhone. Oops, sorry, I think I turned into a Geography teacher then! Things are going very well, the accommodation is excellent, the food is wonderful, if only Tony & Debbie would stop arg...

Honestly, I thought a daily blog was going to be easy, and a good way to keep in touch. NOT SO!! We have found that the Internet revolution has not hit home in rural France as expected. In fact, le 'wee-fee' (wi-fi to youse lot) is rare and flaky, a bit like Tony's hair at the moment. (See pic) The top pic is the four of us, (still friends- just) together with Aude, our chic landlady, before we headed off on our final adventure. I will attempt to summarise the last few days (oh, all right, week) in a few bite-sized bloggy chunks; they're both tasty and good for you! First, a quick recap of our rendezvous in Avignon. A simple plan. James's (2) come down from Paris on the VFT (very fast train) to Avignon station. Macers (2) come down from God knows where on a series of rust buckets to Avignon, taking all day and arriving 'about 4'. Now, those who know Tony's sense of time, will grant me at least an hour's flexibility here. Next, James'...

Just a quick note: we will be off the air for a while- no internet in Pernes Les Fontaines (Provence) save for free wi fi at a local pub! Having a ball with the Macers!!

Paris, city of contrasts! A lovely day today; warm, humid with a refreshing downpour in the afternoon. This piece from the Arc de Triomphe sums it up beautifully- grand ideas, exquisite detail, yet still with a cheeky oohh-la-la touch! This was TV in the 1600's: Jesus and the doubting Thomas. Look at the other disciples in the windows- like naughty schoolboys peeking into the girls' changing rooms. This is from a series in the Notre Dame Cathedral. Quasimodo was nowhere to be seen. The various churches, cathedrals and so on are just overwhelming- there is simply too much detail on every possible level. I found myself walking past masterworks from hundreds of years ago, any one of which would stop me in my tracks anywhere else, with barely a glance. Even the frames are works of art! Me and her at the Arc de Triomphe. Sorry about the chin(s)! Apparently Napoleon won some Grand Final way back- they are still celebrating! We were accosted shortly before taking this pic by a Kosovan...