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Well, I’m convinced that I outsmarted myself when I recently posted this report with the title in French! Provence topics can get a lot of replies, and I was very interested in comments from our many experienced folks in this area, but got very few. So, I’m reposting with a less off-putting (I hope) title in English.
The 12 days includes both our arrival (mainly making our way through quite the thunderstorm to our B&B in the little village of Venasque) and departure (toting our bags to the Marseille airport). So, it was really only 10 days of touring, but we did cover a lot of ground – was it too much? This was our first trip to Provence, and long in the planning, with sources both printed and on-line. In the end, it came down to a balance between our main source in the former area, the Michelin Green Guide (“So much to see!”) and in the latter, Fodorite Stu Dudley (“Slow down!”). You’ll have to judge how well we did.
I always do these reports as captioned phototravelogues, thinking that pictures without words, and words without pictures, do not do the best justice to one’s experiences. Also, in the research to create the captions, I often learn new things about what we have seen. This in a sense lets me take the trip again, which is my greatest pleasure in doing this.
Also, I decided to pick as a subtheme for the album “doors, gates, and windows”. I am impressed by the attention to everyday objects given by good photographers (thinking, for example, of the wonderful photo essays posted here on everyday life in Paris by kerouac), and so decided to give it a try myself.
Here is the link to get started:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=945135957308%3A540606391
(As an aside Kodak has done some recent modernizing of their Web site, and now only the first line of the title shows unless you click on the arrow. Also, my more heavily captioned pictures exceed the new allowable title length, and so have to spill over to the comments page, as noted at the end of the truncated title. Not much in the way of “upgrades”, IMO)
Also, I took some short video clips, simply standing at a spot I found interesting in some way, and just doing a 360 degree turn around that spot. These have been stitched together into 2 youtube videos, as follows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSqzvDrg2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPFeEXeOVt8
It would be hard for anyone else to see these images as fondly as we remember them, but I hope you find them interesting.
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Trip report: 12 days in Provence
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Love, love, love your pictures. Thanks so much for posting them.
I spent time in Provence in 04 & 07 and stood in many of the same places that you did with your camera. I have a whole series of window and door photos from my 2004 trip.
Do you have a favorite town or memory that stands out?
amwosu, my favorite memory at the time, as noted in the pictures, was the WOW! moment at the overlook point of Gordes, with the whole village perched on the hill on a beautiful sunny day.
However, my other favorite memory had to wait for a while to be complete. In Avignon, while waiting for the tourist train to start, I struck up a conversation in my uncertain French with an older couple who were there with (as it turned out), their roughly 3 year old granddaughter. I asked her name, and she replied softly and sweetly “Victoire …” I replied that this was a very pretty name, and told her grandparents that my daughter was soon expecting my first granddaughter, and that Victoria was a leading contender for the name. And thus, a month after our return, on October 29, at precisely 11 PM EDT, did Victoria make her way into the world just outside Washington DC - making the memory of the little blond French Victoire in Avignon all the sweeter …
I loved seeing the perched hilltowns from afar (like your photo of Gordes) as well. I also love all the plane trees lining rural and city streets throughout Provence.
Congrats on Baby Victoria!
Ann Marie
Thank you for such a wonderful armchair trip! Your pictures are beautiful - I looked at every one.
Bookmarking. Somehow the first one dropped out too fast. I did change the number of posts to 50 but maybe that wasn't enough. Can't wait to read it!
I think these are overall the BEST vacation photos I've ever seen. When I take pictures, I'm happy if I get one good shot out of twenty five. How do you do it?
Me too - all 429! Gorgeous. Am planning a trip to Provence and took notes as I read your captions. Thanks.
Waldo: "How do you do it?"
Believe me, Provence makes it very very easy ...
Fantastic - will look at again and again. Visited a lot of the same areas in 2005 and this brings it all back. Loved the markets.
I have the same restaurant shot in Gordes. Still going through the wonderful photos.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. I must warn you SemiMike. In the youtube videos I noticed a pretty blond who seemed to be stalking you
I thoroughly enjoyed all of your 429 photos of Provence. We also like to take photos of door, windows, and gates. You have some stunning examples, especially #8, #136, #262, and #266 being my favorite.
I'd like to know what kind of camera you use.
It was also fun watching your videos. We relived our several trips to the region and got some new tips on towns to visit in the future.
Merci!!
With an aching heart, I viewed your beautiful photos that brought back so many memories of so many years in that earthly paradise called Provence. I too liked to snap photos
of beautiful doors and balconies and the unique fontaines.
Also the Cadran du soleils, (those sundials), the campaniles
(the bell towers with the lacy designs whose purpose was for the mistral to pass through without toppling them) and the ancient lavoirs(wash houses) and the many dogs and cats that were everywhere. I thank you.
Enjoyed your pictures and captions very much. We have been to most of the areas, so it was fun reliving those trips through your photos. Thanks for sharing!
Micheline: "In the youtube videos I noticed a pretty blond who seemed to be stalking you" Yep, she's been doing that for over 15 years now ...
TPAYT: "I'd like to know what kind of camera you use." Nothing special here - just a Fujifilm FinePix S700 digital point-and-shoot, which I do like for the 10x optical zoom (not used a lot at full capability, but nice to have when needed).
cigalechanta: I've been in the Europe Forum long enough to hear a bit about Jerry, and so have a most-certainly incomplete sense of the bittersweet nature of your comments. May you have enough sweetness of memory to compensate in some small way for what has been lost.
Loved your photos!
Your videos and photos are quite wonderful and reflect Provence in a realistic way. I have been to most of the places in your photos, and you really bring them to life. You really did see quite a lot in 12 days. I hope you have more time on your next trip. There is a lot to be said for slow travel, but as you know, you have to have the time to do it. Thank you for sharing your works of art with the Fodorites. I am lucky enough to be traveling to Provence for the third time this summer--the first to see the lavender. I will only need to take pictures of the lavender and purchase yours of all the other places I will visit. Keep traveling and posting. I am traveling with a girlfriend and my husband will be told that I took all the pics. I will let you know if I get away with that.
nametaken: I am happy to have these pictures in the public domain for such uses! Of course, if there are any missing images, I am eager to entertain any offers of all-expense-paid trips to Provence to fill in the gaps ...
Fantastic photos. We will be spending 15 days in Provence in June and these pictures fill me with anticipation. Too many beautiful towns to visit. We need more time!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories.