A DAY IN PROVENCE

One nice day during the week and we had luckily scheduled an all day trip to areas in Provence.  Sharon and I were joined by a young couple on their honeymoon - Amanda and Eric.  They live in New Jersey and Eric works in NY for American Express.  Amanda is completing  her PhD in Political Science.  Just a very nice couple to spend some time with.  Our tour guide was Caroline who's been doing this for 10 years and is a real expert on the area.  She was a delight.

As we were leaving Avignon and departing the city walls Caroline informed us that  there are  approximately 3 miles of wall and they are in the best condition of any in France.  They are a UNESCO World heritage site and as I think I mentioned on an earlier blog - they are truly impressive.  We headed east out of Avignon. 

Our first stop was at the the Lavender museum - Le Chateau Du Bois.  They showed an interesting film on growing harvesting and distilling of the Lavender.  We were also shown the difference between lavender and lavandine.  Fine Lavender also called population lavender" has been  used for its medicinal properties and became known as "the bue gold of the region."  It takes 130 kg  ( 286 lbs) of flowers to obtain 1 litre of essential oil by the distilling process.   

Spike lavender is a tall plant and each stem carries several small flowers.  Little is used in France its perfume being too strong.  It is used in Spain and Portugal to dilute both oil paint and porcelain paint.

Lavandine is a tall plant with two branches and grows in large round clumbs.  It is a hybrid.  It started to be grown in the 1950's and ever since people have confused it with fine lavender.  It has a much stronger smell,infinitely less subtle than fine lavender, and cannot be used for its medicinal properties.  It is used in cleaning products and detergents.  The flowers are used in sachets.  Forty kg (88lbs) if flowers are needed to obtain 1 litre of essential lavandine oil.

 Looking at these clumbs of lavender outside the museum I have to admit that the clumps in front of the Avignon Bridge are not Rosemary but lavender.  Without the flowers any one would think it was rosemary - honest!  Guess I'll not be going out to cut a few sprigs for my rosemary chicken.

     One of the distillers.

This is what they shove all those flowers into to make the oil.  All those pounds of flowers have to be disposed of after the oil is taken out of them.  The waste is burned only at certain times.  

Wonderful  fields of lavender.  OK so these are just pictures of the fields.  I have been to Provence twice and neither time were the fields in bloom.  

Of course we had to go into the wonderful little shop at the Chateau and buy some lavender products for all its medicinal qualities.  We bought some essestial oil,some body scrub, some lotion some .... Well with all it's medicinal qualities we will be set for the rest of our trip.  Besides I'm almost sure I can use the cost of the purchase toward my deductable on my health plan. 

Look at all it does!  I'm sure it will qualify!

Lavender soothes - 1 to 2 drops on your pillow at night - cures insomnia, irritability ( spayed into the air)

massage on temples to relieve headaches

Lavender disinfects and heals - cuts and burns ( 1 to 2 drops) ( I have used this on burns and it's amazing! eczema ( 2 to 3 drops on cotton wool smooth on patch) bedsores, sunburn, insect bites.

Lavender fights infections - 1 to 2 drops - inhale for colds and sinusitis: sore throats - 1 to 2 drops on a sugar lump or a spoonful of honey; 

Lavender relaxes and relieves pain or cramps and rheumatism ( rub in several drops)

Lavender fights parasites - head lice ( 1 drop behind the ears as a precautionary measure, intestinal parasites ( 1 drop on a sugar lump - to take three days running.)

After leaving the Chateau we headed for the village of Roussillion where all the houses are paintd with ochre.  From bright red to soothing yellow.  Roussillion is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France

(Most beautiful villages of France).  It is absolutely striking with it's red buildings, red rocks and red tile roofs.

                             

The surrounding coutryside.

                                             

                                        

Eric and Amanda.

  Terry and Sharon.  You probably didn't recognize Sharon because of her new sweatshirt.

                                            

                                             

And we climbed.

                                            

Found the little church.

                                          

                                  

Samuel Beckett moved to Roussillion in 1942 and stayed until 1945.  In his book Waiting for Godot

his character Vladmir says " We were together in the Vaucluse.  We did the vendange at the Bonnelly place in Russillion".  

The 19th century belltower with its bells and ancient sundials.  Good bye Rousisillon!

 And on to Gordes, a hilltop village built with dry local stone.  It is one of the "in" villages of the Luberon where many movie stars and artists have made their home.  It too, is one of the most beautiful villages of France.  It's houses of white and grey stone rise up in a spiral around the rock where the village is set.  At the very top is the church and the castle which face out onto the hills of the Luberon.  This little village has a world wide reputation not only due to its famous inhabitants but Peter Mayle's book A year in Provence.  

The city center with a memorial dedicated to those who fought and died in WWI.  It was Armistice Day the day before oour tour so poppy wreaths were in front  of the memorial.  

The castle enclosing the city hall and the Pol Mara museum.  

                                               

As you notice the buildings are all made of stone constructed with or what looks like without mortar. Of course there is something holding those rocks together in the lower photo you just can't see it.  

Hark!  Is that a person I see? Contrary to summers in  Provence these villages were extremely quiet during our November visit.  Many of the shops and restaurants were closed.  November is not the high tourist season I guess..  Having experienced Provence in the spring last time I was here there is a completely different feel to the area.  

Of course we found the village church.

                                               

                                            

                                          

                                                 

As you notice - not a coffee shop in sight.  At least o ne that was open! Sharon and I were both looking for someplace where we could some coffee.  We had eaten a "lunch on the run" in Roussillion and it was not satisfying.  A cup of coffee would have helped.

Carolina, the tour guide, came to pick us up after our time in Gordes and take us back to Avignon where we were going to add a few more people to thetour  group and than head west out of Avignon to see some more sites.