A Peek into Provence

Peek into Provence

Photos of Provence, by Corey Amaro.

A peek into Provence.

The fields are producing the beginning buds, and blooms of olives and grapes, the wheat is nearly ready to harvest, as is the lavender. The red cherries are picked, the apricots are exploding and the sunflowers wave: Bonjour.

It is the color of Provence that sings these days in the surrounding countryside.

(Photo of the Countryside around St Saturnin.)

 

Provence sunflowers

Red poppies fade, lavender blooms, sunflowers sway… within a picture-perfect background.

A cabanon (Small sheds, over a couple of hundred years old, dot the French Provencal countryside. Made with stones gathered from the fields, and have tiled roofs. They are historical monuments, and cannot be altered and taken down.) in the distance gives the ideal focal point.

(Photo of Countryside around Rognes.)

 

Biscuiterie_de_Rognes-803-501
Photo Source

La Biscuiterie, in Rognes… it is one of my favorite places. The best biscotti and pine nut bars, plus many other baked goods.

How many happy calories have I gathered there?

 

Provence  and pastis

Pastis and Provence, hand in hand.

Have you had a Pastis?

I prefer Kir Royal with Creme de Cassis.

 

Provence cassis

In Cassis, you must go to the local Pastis shop of Roger. Directions: When facing the port in Cassis, go to your right up the stairs, then turn right and you will see the Pastis Shop on your left. Thank you Jani and Rod for showing us! If you go you must taste the homemade tapas! Tell Roger and Mathis hello too!

PASTIS & CIE 

9B RUE BREMOND

13260 CASSIS)

 

Provence things to do

Sitting at a cafe,

taken it in… haven't grown tired of it yet.

Listening to the sound of the petanque, drinking Pastis with Carrie and Shoshana.

(Photo of La Ciotat.)

 

Saint saturin provence france

My friend Judy told me that when she planned her trip to France, she bought the book "The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence", then she circled the ones she wanted to see, mapped them with her partner Bill, and made reservations in central locations in old homes and b&bs. 

She could sell her list of places to stay, things to do, restaurants to stop at, it is that impressive.

Judy told me of a place in Venasques that I must go to: Les Remparts for lunch.

(Photo, backroads, Provence.)

 

Sanary france

Provence. Paradise.

Sun. Sea. Sanary.

History evident at ever stop in Provence. Swoon.

 

Arles-provence

Since my Cousin Daryl and Judy left two weeks ago, we have met a ton of blogging friends. 

Laura and Lamont from Washington, Jani and Rod from Canada by the way of South Africa, Judy and Bill from Oregon, Carrie and Shoshana from New York, Debbie and Shea from California… I hope I haven't forgotton anyone?

The places above are where we meet, each are less than an hour and a half from our home.

I am fortunate to have met so many of you, and hope to meet many more of you. 

What part of your world do you show your friends when they come to visit?

 

 



Comments

28 responses to “A Peek into Provence”

  1. Hey there Corey ! Beautiful photos. If you like Crème de Cassis, you must try ours one day – Lucien Jacob – it’s fabulous of course. Boudier buy our fruit !

  2. Hi! Tell me when next week and I’ll be there!
    For those of you who would like to know this link will take you there:
    http://www.vins-bourgogne.fr/connaitre/ses-hommes…/les-vignerons-et-maisons-de-bourgogne/jacob-lucien-echevronne-21420,27,21.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD00NTEmYWN0aW9uPXZpZXdGaWNoZSZpZD1WSU5CT1UwMDAwMjAwNjQzJnw%3D
    I’ll bring the champagne.
    C

  3. Could your life be any more fabulous? Could a place be anymore wonderful to live?

  4. Posting a day late on the rainy brocante. I am so glad you endured the rain. i feel like i was a bit unsympathetic jesting we readers were drooling and it just looked like rain. Yes, you and FH are true and true stick it out my kind of brocante shoppers! Great team!As always, all wonderful photos and posts. xo jody

  5. Marcia Easterling

    Hi Corey!
    You asked where we take friends when they visit, so I thought I would answer. We live in beautiful Richmond, Virginia so are centrally located to lots of historic locations. Our guests can have a day in Washington (90 minutes away by car), a trip to Colonial Williamsburg (45 minutes by car), a day at Virginia Beach (2 hours by car), or a day in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains ( 75 minutes away by car}. Of course our proximity to so many places assures us a steady stream of visitors :0).
    For guests, Washington and Williamsburg are must sees, but to my surprise our European friends seem to like the Prime Outlets in Williamsburg the best. Can you believe it? I had one family of friends who had to rent a separate car to take all of the luggage to the airport for the trip back to London. God’s truth- they bought an entire set of new luggage to handle the new purchases with the largest suitcase being full of shoes alone.
    You guys should come visit us sometime. You are more than welcome! I have read your blog for years and found your place when searching for places to visit while on our trips to France. I have become hooked on your blog and now visit daily to see what you are all up to.
    Sincerely,
    Marcia in Richmond

  6. Diogenes

    Sanary looks just beautiful.
    I had never heard of it; thanks for the heads up.
    My favorite thing to do with people from out of town, is to go to one of the many outdoor cafes on Sunset Boulevard, one block north of us, for breakfast. Afterward, I take Sunset Boulevard west all the way to the beach – it goes through many slices of Los Angeles neighborhoods. It begins with the giant electronic billboards and trendy clubs of West Holywood. Sunset then winds through the lush green homes of Beverly Hills and past the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, then into fashionable Bel Air through giant trees, past UCLA and into Pacific Palisades, with its amazing views of the ocean.
    Sunset ends in Malibu, so we go north to the Getty Museum which is an exact copy of a villa in Pompeii, perched high on a hill overlooking the Pacific. The collections is all ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and art. By now it’s the late afternoon, so after a 10 minute drive further up the amazing coastline, we stop at Geoffrey’s Cafe for a coffee (or cocktail or 2). It’s hidden in the front by the hillside, but it has chihc black granite floors hanging on a cliff over the ocean with all white furniture. Amazing views ocean views and good odds of seeing a celebrity or 2. Day 2 would be Melrose Ave. to see all the crazy trendy shops and goth and punk rock people strolling the streets.

  7. You live in a beautiful part of the world, thanks for sharing it. I show my friends the Pacific Northwest, salmon and joe.

  8. Corey,
    I have not been to France for more than 25 years but I loved our time there. We stayed in a little place called Beillot in a 14th century house that belonged to some friends of my in laws. What a great 10 days we had – it included a trip to Paris that included a visit to an art museum showing a Renoir exhibition. On that trip we also were in Amsterdam where we visited the Van Gogh museum – How I do love his flowers and colors.. Much of his work was done in Arles –
    Thanks for the tour and for the memories ..
    You asked me what I would share with visitors here- a gorgeous new art museum, a science center filled with interesting exhibits, a river valley that has beautiful places to picnic and more … We are huge festival city in summer with lots of different festivals all summer long- The first ones have begun- Jazz city and The Works but there will be more- a folk festival of music that sells out in less than a day, a Heritage festival with lots of cultural dancing and food and a Fringe theatre festival that offers great plays for reasonable prices.. Edmonton is a beautiful city in the summer time.
    Regards,
    Anna

  9. a friend rae dunn, an artist and potter, just returned from her 2nd year apprenticeship and just landed last night. she is blue. she sent photos of her days in the studio, at meals, laying on the beach, visiting museums and this was each and every day.
    why don’t we do this at home. i show people around the san francisco bay area when they visit and rarely partake of its bounties on my own..
    at least i am in france daily…merci, corey

  10. I would love to travel in Provence once again. When people come to visit we take them through the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood, the Rose Gardens, and the Oregon coast. In a few days I am driving to Sacramento and I am planning to stop in Willows and see your mom’s shop.

  11. My friends and I will be spending a day or 2 in LA this summer… now that I read your comment we might have to take the drive along Sunset Blvd for a cocktail at Geoffrey’s Cafe 🙂
    Thanks !

  12. mmmmm….
    memories…
    thank you and i hope you got your jacket from roger.?

  13. Jeannie

    Don’t laugh, but we take them to vineyards. Ours are not like the beautiful French ones, or even the ones in Napa, but the wine is excellent. I love the colors of Florence.

  14. We take visiting friends to the beautiful coast and beaches of New England, the White Mountains and Boston with all its history.

  15. barb in minnesota

    Its been over 30 years since I spent six fabulous months on a research boat that was moored on an island just off the coast from Sanary and Six-Four-Les Plage. Iou haven’t been to Ile des Embiez, which is privately owned, it’s worth a day of exploration, as it is beautiful and parts of it have been left undisturbed. I plan to go back there in the next few years and see again. Your pictures reminded me of it. Thanks.
    Barb in Minnesota

  16. Diogenes

    Hi Chelsea,
    Your Mom has my e-mail, so let me know if there’s any information or help I can provide about LA. 🙂

  17. Our guests enjoy the Grand Canyon and on the way back a stop at Sedona – lovely anytime of the year. Then Prescott for some wild west history downtown and of course Wiskey Row and then Charlotte Hall Museum where her copper dress is displayed. She was the first woman to carry the electorate vote for president to Washington DC by train. Because copper is mined in AZ they made her a dress out of copper – looks like mesh fabric that is worn over a real dress. If there is time then we go to Boot Hill in Tombstone,AZ then to the OK Corral. These are the highlights. Buy if guests are limited to one site – it has to be the Grand Canyon – a must see!

  18. When friends come to visit we take them to the nearby Temecula Valley wineries 🙂 There are more than 20 and they rival the wineries in Napa and Sonoma (northern Calif.)!

  19. Hi Barb,
    Okay I am so going to go to Ile des Embiez, thanks for telling me!
    C

  20. Hi Jani
    Yes! Thank you, got the jacket, and now we are friends we Roger thanks to you!
    C

  21. I love the blog world!
    C

  22. Hi M
    Just yesterday a blog friend of mine (Merisi) said she was going to drive through the part you mentioned this autumn.
    C

  23. Hi BH
    Every place has its beauty. And were we live could be more fabulous if there weren’t so many car accidents. Just the other day our neighbor was killed. The entire village is sadden.
    As for my life…. every one of us has our cross it just depends how we look at it, and how heavy it is.
    C

  24. I have been to Les Remparts! and have photos taken on that patio with the breathtaking views. We stumbled upon Venasques on a drive from Carpentras to Apt (yes, we drove our little car through the Luberon National Forest) and now dream of retiring to an apartment there — altho’ that will never happen ‘(

  25. When friends come to visit us in Florida, and they often do, we take them to the BEACH. That is the non historical location that everyone seems to want to see.
    I am still trying to get a ‘taste’ for Pastis. Seems tres French, but I just can’t get used to the taste. Guess I’ll have to keep trying.

  26. Corey
    I absolutely adore your blog. I am dying to travel to Provence and you provide me with inspiration with every post! Love your style (on pinterest) as well.

  27. Carolyn

    Dear Corey,
    I can’t travel anymore…I’m so glad you take me with you the way you do.

  28. Dear Corey,
    I can not thank you and Yann enough for the wonderful afternoon and evening that you spent showing us your neck of the woods!
    From the artisanal Creme de Cassis to the winding roads to the secret cove, there was never a dull moment!
    Tu es adorable et the ultimate fun girl!
    Looking forward to showing you around the Emerald Isle!

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