Ste. Croix de Verdon, The Real Blue of Provence:

village of Ste-Croix-de-Verdon
Ste-Croix-de-Verdon, photos and text by Corey Amaro

The curvaceous road to Ste Croix de Verdon wrapped around the mountain tightly, I leaned one way than the other, feeling like I was French Husband's second skin as we coiled our way to the top. I didn't dare look to the side of the road in fear that I might shift my weight causing the bike to lean opposite the course.

There was definitely a groove thing going on, and I was getting into the swing of being on the bike, when suddenly there was a gap in the thicket that stole my attention. I literally jumped up on the foot pegs, nearly causing French Husband to run off the road. The village of Ste-Croix-de-Verdon is a pearl, but the lake is out of this world blue. A blue that almost had me sailing off the bike and into the water down below.

Ste-Croix-de-Verdon Lake and village

Ste Croix de Verdon things to do other than gawk at the blue lake.

Where to go in Provence and have your eyes pop out of your head, sorry but it is true.

The blue is that blue. I kid you not. It is shockingly blue. It is the kind of blue that makes you rub your eyes in disbelief. It is the kind of blue that makes you think food coloring was added to it. It is by far the most true blue thing I have ever seen and the south of France is loaded with blue things.

When French Husband pulled over, I jumped off the bike, I nearly dove (belly flopped) right then and there, off the cliff, into the lake, and I do not even know how to dive. You might say I was a tab bit excited.

Blue water st croix

This is a cropped photo, of a tiny part of the St Croix lake that I zoomed by 500 percent. I wanted to see the pixels break down and see the many shades of blue dots connect. Yes, I am strange that way. What color of blue is this anyway?

St croix blue lake

The dark spots in the water are reflections from the clouds.

Oh did I ever tell you the story about French Husband bungee cord jumping off the Gorge de Verdon Pont de l'Artuby bridge?

IMG_7735

Yes, you gotta love a man who even with helmet hair can drive a woman to such places… and make her scream.

His jumping off that God-forsaken, high bridge over the Gorge de Verdon made me scream, amongst other things I will not mention. Gee, thinking about it now makes me want to hit him, I nearly puked that day he jumped off the Artuby bridge!!

Anyway, that is another story.



Comments

30 responses to “Ste. Croix de Verdon, The Real Blue of Provence:”

  1. Marie-Noëlle

    Corey, you remind me of beautiful memories !!!
    My family and I had a hike along the Gorges du Verdon and a long and warm rewarding swim in the lake!
    7 years ago… time flies !!!
    Beautiful shots ! Thank you !

  2. Elaine L.

    French husband definitely has that “thrill seeking” gene.
    The blue of the lake is amazing!
    ~elaine~

  3. Stunning blue water, makes me want to jump on a plane and escape the winter ‘blues’ down here.
    One thing I would never do…bungee!! No wonder you screamed when French husband did it!

  4. You brought back such wonderful memories….
    Here’s a link to MY Verdon experience last year http://mylittleplace.blog.com/3066142/

  5. Oh I just love the lac de St. Croix, I was there 3 times and I find the turqouise water so beautiful and we also loved to go up to Moustier Sainte Marie every time we were there because it’s such a sweet village in the montagne!
    Your remark over the helmet hair cracked me up again 😀
    xoxo Carola

  6. Gorgeous! I’ve never been to lac de St. Croix, but I’m definitely putting it on my list of things to do. What makes the lake so blue? I’ve just begun reading Entre Nous and your posts show me that you’ve truly become a French woman, enjoying sensual pleasures, like the smell of lavender (previous post) and the sight of the lake. Enjoy your Provencal summer.

  7. It looks so perfectly blue I would have assumed it was photoshopped only for your description!
    If I never see it with my own two eyes Corey I will have it in my mind from your wonderful photos and description!

  8. michelleb.

    Beautiful. The color makes me want to touch it. Is it cold or warm? Does it have a scent?

  9. WOW! That looks like the Med, just down the street from my flat in Cagnes-sur-Mer. But it’s a lake? Gotta go there sometime! Thanks for sharing! Cy

  10. This is so pretty. I want to live where you live! It seems like the prettiest place in the world.

  11. Patricia

    Wow. So beautiful! How far is this from where you live?

  12. Wow – so gorgeous – I love your zoomed in color sample/paint chip. That would look good on a kitchen wall!
    Maybe we have that shade of blue over here in summer lagoons, but from the depths of winter it’s hard to imagine it, so thanks for sharing and injecting some summer color into my life!

  13. Ed in Willows

    I love the fact that FH is wearing a shirt with a Honda Trail 90 on it. Is that a souvenir from Willows ?

  14. COREY, breathtaking!

  15. martina

    That truly is gorgeous. The bridge-eeeek!!! Your comment about the dots of blue reminded me of high school art class-pointillism (sp?). I did a mountain scene with a lake-not nearly as beautiful as your photos.

  16. Diogenes

    Turquoise blue…wonderful post, Corey.

  17. I’m speechless~~~~the blue of that lake is astonishing.
    You live in a beautiful place.
    Carolyn

  18. Wow! I feel like I am on vacation, seeing beautiful places.

  19. That’s an amazing blue…so clear, too. And the darker places in the water are the shadows of clouds? WOW. You are living in a gorgeous country, Corey.

  20. *sigh*
    Perfect purple yesterday, beautiful blue today… what colour will tomorrow bring I wonder?

  21. Corey, do you know what water feeds into that lake? I’m just curious because it reminds me of Lake Louise in Canada, which is fed by glacial waters. The mineral content is what they say causes the water to be so blue. That deep aqua color is my favorite color. Beautiful.

  22. I would call it cerulean blue. A color I run out of often.

  23. Sometimes it’s hard for me to look at your blog – it makes me so wistful for the South of France! You take such GORGEOUS photos! Thank you for sharing them with us! Silke
    P.S. I am sooooo glad my husband isn’t into bungee jumping – I don’t think I’d survive it…

  24. Your posts these days are painting a rainbow!

  25. Denise Leavens

    What colour of blue is this you ask?
    French Provincial blue!

  26. Wow! That Lac St-Croix is gorgeous. Thanks for the tips Corey. We are so glad we bought in Cotignac…

  27. Gail Sullivan

    Love, love, love the pix. they are magnificent.
    hugs,
    Gail

  28. mouche outre de blue, naturellement!
    green-with-envy-Joodie
    San Antonio

  29. Billie Haffey

    Maybe this is the blue of those velvet britches of Jesus your FH is often referring to!
    Unbelievable photos Corey. Thanks so much for sharing.
    B

  30. Oh my word, its looks absolutely amazing there, yes my eyes have popped out of my head :-)..The colour is out of this world.
    I am reading a lot of your archives too, just love it..Thank you for such an amazing read 🙂

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