[Idyllchat] April in Provence

[nbmazelis at aol.com]

April in Provence can be a little chilly AND rainy. Be prepared. 

Definitely visit the market town of Isle-sur-Sorgue, preferably on a market day -- Sunday is one of them -- if possible. 

Avignon is over-priced BUT the Hotel d'Angleterre is quite nice and is (was?) reasonable and within less than a mile of the Palais des Papes. 

Visit Perpignan (home of "Sicilian Vespers"!!) and nearby Collioure, former artist colony (e.g., Picasso) with a nice public beach, now overrun with condos. Both towns are stuffed with tourists during summer and into September BUT are nice in April, weather depending. Got inland to see the Cathar fortresses on high bluffs, visible for miles from the highway.

I liked Montpelier myself. Nice town -- older part of town is fun for walking -- good food, nice people, big enough for cultural events but small enough to manage. (Take the bus to the beach and the small aquarium there. Pleasant.)

All in all, Provence and the nearby the Rouisillon (sp?) region have people with lighter attitudes and? a lighter, more lilting (and, in my opinion) easier-to-understand speech than Paris.

BEFORE you go, see what cultural events these towns are featuring in April, e.g., any "journees de la patrimonie"?

Bonne chance.

Noreen Mazelis

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