It’s been 2 months since our trip to France. During that time I’ve prepared for and participated in our local Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour. As I prepare to blog about our 4 days in Paris I would like to reflect on our time in Provence.
My husband dropped the girls and I off at LAX a little after 2am for our 6am flight. The drive was much shorter than anticipated. Inside the terminal there was a family sleeping on the floor with luggage surrounding them. We found our own spot on the floor next to an electrical outlet to charge our electronics. When we got in line for our boarding passes the family was still sound asleep despite the fact that the airport had gone from empty to a large crowd. The girls were amazed they could sleep so soundly. At our departure gate a young girl was face down on a row of seats with her legs hanging off the end. She hadn’t changed positions when we boarded our flight. Later when our journey turned from a 16 hour trip to almost 24 hours the girls completely understood how one could just lay down and sleep from sheer exhaustion.
Below: At LAX Fresh and excited about our trip.
I love my scarves, especially in public when I want a nap. No one can see my mouth wide open or the drool escaping but more importantly, I can see right through the silk!
Waiting for our flight, in Chicago bound for Frankfurt, at an electronic charging station. Heidi is busy on her iPad.
Our first of many walks around Rochegude while waiting for lost luggage to arrive. We’d arrived the evening before and were exhausted from only having cat naps during the 24 hour trip. I felt numb as we drove from Marseille to Rochegude but was quite happy we never got lost. The French roads are quite narrow with ditches along the road and at places there are metal poles or large stones to keep you from going off the road. The few times a large truck came from the opposite direction I was amazed we didn’t scrape each other or the poles/rocks on the side of the road. There’s a center line when the road is 2 car widths. A good deal of the roads have no lines and are a little narrower. It was also surprising to see all the stop signs say ‘stop’, not arret. I don’t remember the stop signs being in English when I was there almost 30 years ago.
We bought quite a few pastries from the local boulangerie. Ahhh, the grain bread, éclairs, little quiches, fruit tarts, cake, croissants with chocolate…….
Heidi and I sitting on the steps of a church trying to get the Chateau Rochegudes’ wifi to work. Our place was just down the street. The neighbors on our right were a nice older couple. On the other side of us the man handed us a wonderful cantaloupe one day. Another day he was carrying his grandson and introduced the baby to us. He said he had 7 grandchildren. I said I had 7 grand-dogs.
Waiting for a nice cold beer. I didn’t think it would be as humid as it was. I knew it would be hot but I was expecting a dry heat.
One of Heidi’s rearranged outfits while waiting Saturday to Tuesday evening for lost luggage. Air France promptly paid the girls allotted Euros stipend once I filed the claim when we got home. I was very impressed.
This little guy was plastered to our license plate. His wing was such a pretty blue.
Have I mentioned how much fun the girls and I had?? Dinner in Orange.
St Tropez area restaurant on the beach. It was 98 degrees and 80% humidity.
The girls and I have our first access to wifi in this bar in St Tropez. It was so nice to sit somewhere cool.
Entertaining ourselves while being shunned at the Chateau Rochegude. We had jet lag, lost suitcases and just wanted to relax with a night cap. The person at the desk treated us coldly as if we were street urchins begging for hand outs. I was disappointed since I had planned to have an expensive meal there.
Waiting, waiting, waiting for luggage. Michelle sitting in one of two tiny chairs in our living room.
Heidi waiting/napping, disappointed yet another day when the luggage doesn’t show up as promised.
Looking down on Heidi sitting on our front stoop. Ruth, the care taker, had asked if I’d water the two pots of plants in front. I love gardening so I enjoyed helping keep those pots of succulents thriving.
I really, really wanted to ride one of these….at Pope’s Palace, Avignon.
Heidi and I taking in the view on Pont du Gard.
Market day at St Cecile was one of our favorite places.
There were so many wonderful linens to choose from. I really liked one particular table cloth and runner, I wish I’d bought them.
Hmmm….Heidi imitating the mannequins. I was so busy purchasing silk scarves I didn’t see her and Michelle playing around.
The girls like their Sephora. Most of the stores we went into played American music and a lot of signs were both English and French. I figured it’s due to the large population of British vacationers and home owners.
The 10 days we were in Provence this roof below our bathroom window was being worked on. The roof line of the next building was bowed from age. These buildings are estimated to be 300 years old. I liked the old building juxtaposed with the modern age satellite.
It was quite an adventure getting to France – late landing, missed flight, new flights, lost luggage, ATM card not working for the rental car but they let me take the car anyway. Would we do that here? If a foreigner’s credit card wasn’t accepted would we give them the keys? I thought my card not working was a fluke until I tried to withdrawal cash and was denied again. Though I called the bank before leaving the States, they never processed the information. I called David, he called the bank, I was in business. Luckily the girls had no problem with their cards.
The animals were interesting too. I saw a reddish colored squirrel, a large blue bird, a moth that looked like a hummingbird, a magpie looking bird and French crows. The crows have such a different accent!! The deer are exotic looking.
I miss Provence. Some day I’ll go back….. On to Paris!!
