[Idyllchat] Provence Advice

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:59:53 -0400

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Hi, folks,

We stayed in Mausanne des Alpilles (little Alps)=20
in Provence for several weeks last August (about=20
7 miles south of St. R=E9my), after which I wrote a=20
short trip report. I'll send it to you=20
separately. It reviews the towns and regions=20
visited and our impressions of them.

I also saw Phil King's response and agree with=20
almost all of it. The market on Sunday at Isle=20
sur la Sorgue is hands-down the best in the=20
greater area, plus it's a nifty town (but get=20
there real early or you'll hike a long way from=20
your parking spot). Like them, I also=20
particularly liked Fontaine de Vaucluse for its=20
scenic beauty and the restfulness of watching the=20
water drift by while having a beer. Many in our=20
party returned the following day and hiked to the=20
top of the fort which overlooks the town. The=20
Pope's castle in Avignon is worth the tour. And,=20
while I agree that Ch=E2teauneuf-du-Pape is=20
probably the best place to go wine sampling, I=20
didn't find the area, or the town itself, all=20
that interesting, but perhaps that's just weird=20
me. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy my drive=20
along the Rh=F4ne from Lyon to Avignon, right through the heart of grape=
 country.

The Luberon is the picturesque section, a valley=20
surrounded by some mountains and large hills.=20
Gordes is an arsty town literally hanging from a=20
cliff and Rousillon is another town filled with=20
neat little shops and some very good restaurants, both along the north=
 ridge.

We did Aix in the rain (a large city), so that=20
sort of took the fun out, and, in the south, we=20
weren't crazy about Arles, but loved Cassis=20
(bring a bathing suit -- tops optional -- and=20
enjoy the beach). Great seafood here, plus the Calanques boats.

The Pont du Gard (across the Gard River) is one=20
ancient site (aqueduct) that stands out. Really=20
worth hiking up to and crossing. You can park on=20
either side. As I recall the museum itself is on=20
the east side, probably best if you don't want to=20
do the entire crossing twice. It gives you new=20
respect for the Romans. And, here again, if you=20
wear bathing suits under some clothes you can=20
joint the others that you will see swimming at=20
the base of the "pont" (bridge). We were there on=20
a very hot day and it did look inviting.

Anyway, there is more in the report which I'll send you.

Jerry

At 10:05 AM 7/25/2006, Conrad & Ellie Cherry wrote:

>We will be heading to Provence in September,=20
>untouring from Saint Didier.  Did any of you=20
>previous travelers to the area stumble across=20
>sites, markets, events, restaurants that you=20
>were glad you did not miss but that were not=20
>mentioned in the "On-Site Guide"?  (The guide=20
>probably needs updating since it mentions use of=20
>Francs in restaurants and restrooms, and there=20
>aren't many recent logs on the Untour web site)).
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Conrad & Ellie Cherry

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Hi, folks, 
We stayed in Mausanne des Alpilles (little Alps) in Provence for several
weeks last August (about 7 miles south of St. R=E9my), after which I wrote
a short trip report. I'll send it to you separately. It reviews the towns
and regions visited and our impressions of them. 
I also saw Phil King's response and agree with almost all of it. The
market on Sunday at Isle sur la Sorgue is hands-down the best in the
greater area, plus it's a nifty town (but get there real early or
you'll hike a long way from your parking spot). Like them, I also
particularly liked Fontaine de Vaucluse for its scenic beauty and the
restfulness of watching the water drift by while having a beer. Many in
our party returned the following day and hiked to the top of the fort
which overlooks the town. The Pope's castle in Avignon is worth the tour.
And, while I agree that Ch=E2teauneuf-du-Pape is probably the best place to
go wine sampling, I didn't find the area, or the town itself, all that
interesting, but perhaps that's just weird me. I did, however, thoroughly
enjoy my drive along the Rh=F4ne from Lyon to Avignon, right through the
heart of grape country. 
The Luberon is the picturesque section, a valley surrounded by some
mountains and large hills. Gordes is an arsty town literally hanging from
a cliff and Rousillon is another town filled with neat little shops and
some very good restaurants, both along the north ridge. 
We did Aix in the rain (a large city), so that sort of took the fun out,
and, in the south, we weren't crazy about Arles, but loved Cassis (bring
a bathing suit -- tops optional -- and enjoy the beach). Great seafood
here, plus the Calanques boats. 
The Pont du Gard (across the Gard River) is one ancient site (aqueduct)
that stands out. Really worth hiking up to and crossing. You can park on
either side. As I recall the museum itself is on the east side, probably
best if you don't want to do the entire crossing twice. It gives you new
respect for the Romans. And, here again, if you wear bathing suits under
some clothes you can joint the others that you will see swimming at the
base of the &quot;pont&quot; (bridge). We were there on a very hot day
and it did look inviting. 
Anyway, there is more in the report which I'll send you. 
Jerry 
 
At 10:05 AM 7/25/2006, Conrad &amp; Ellie Cherry wrote: 
<blockquote type=3Dcite class=3Dcite cite=3D"">We will be heading to Provenc=
e
in September, untouring from Saint Didier.&nbsp; Did any of you previous
travelers to the area stumble across sites, markets, events, restaurants
that you were glad you did not miss but that were not mentioned in the
&quot;On-Site Guide&quot;?&nbsp; (The guide probably needs updating since
it mentions use of Francs in restaurants and restrooms, and there aren't
many recent logs on the Untour web site)). 
&nbsp; 
Thanks, 
 
Conrad &amp; Ellie Cherry</blockquote></body>
 
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