Day 2 Les-Beaux-de-Provence - We drove south into the Bouches-du-Rhone region and as we wound through the beautiful rock landscape of the Alpilles hills across an opening you see Les-Beaux-de-Provence, one of France's most visited tourist sites. Quite different than your typical Provence village, its perched atop a dramatically rocky plateau. The Châteaux des Baux [...]
First decision in planning our trip...where to stay? I was looking for a quintessential Provençal farmhouse in the country yet central to all the villages we wanted to cover, mostly in the Vaucluse region. La Bastide de Voulonne was the answer. Penny and Julie Hemery run this picturesque 18th century farmhouse in the Luberon (part [...]
Provence is France's most popular holiday region. The Romans conquered this area in 2nd Century B.C. and named it Provincia, "the province", thus the name Provence. This vast region, officially called Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in southeastern France, is diverse and full of beauty captured by the painters it inspired like Cézanne, van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse. [...]
Last night I stopped downstairs into my local Whole Foods and they were having a Champagne Tasting. Yes please! I'm definitely a bubbly fan although my favorite sparking beverage is Prosecco (Italian Sparkling Wine, fruity & bright, usually a great price point around $12). I'd never been into champagne, probably too many cheapo bottles on [...]
That sounds fantastic! And is currently a reality at 8 supermarkets in France thanks to Astrid Terzian, who developed the 'La Cuve' machine and concept through her company Reserves Precieuses. Its similar to an old Parisian tradition where customers would bring in a flagon (metal or ceramic pitcher) to wine shops. With La Cuve, customers [...]