Thursday, February 24, 2011

Provence in January


Who on earth goes to Provence in January you might ask? Well, if the girls are going, so am I, I always say, and this time it was 16 friends from the American Women's Club here in London. Was it sunny? Yes. Was it warm? Uh, no. Was it crowded like Provence can sometimes be? Not in the least!



After arriving in Marseilles, we headed straightaway to the deserted hillside-perched village of Les Baux de Provence. It was once a thriving stronghold in the 10th century for the feudal lords of Baux who claimed to be descended from Balthazar, one of the legendary Wise Men. With the star of Bethlehem on their tunics as inspiration,  they controlled 79 surrounding cities at their peak of glory.



From the view of their ruined castle, and with the chain of the Alpilles mountains in the background, 



 it's an amazing experience imagining what it must have been like



to live at such "altitudes" of power.



Moving on, we stopped at the Roman ruins of Glanum, a fortified town founded in the 6th century B.C.   The triumphal arch is considered to be one of the first of its kind in Provence and was situated just outside the northern gates of the ancient city.



Next to the arch is the 60 foot high Mausoleum of the Julii, which dates to about 30 B.C. and is thought to be the burial tomb of a mother and father, erected in their honor by their three sons, whose names are inscribed on the side, along with some beautiful bas-relief designs. It is generally considered to be one of the best preserved mausoleums in the whole Roman world.

Right there in the south of France!



Our resting place the first day was the nearby town of St.-Rémy-de-Provence, one of the typical Provence villages covered up with tourists in the summer. We found empty squares, welcoming restaurants, and quiet atmospheric streets, tempting us to come back and be a part of the action when the city wakes up for the summer season.



Another day of sun found us on our way to Avignon, where we spied its famous bridge, originally  22 arches across when it was built in the 12th century, but today standing short of that with only 4 arches. Immortalized in the children's folk song, Sur Le Pont d'Avignon, it had been ravished by the Rhone River on several occasions and the citizens opted not to rebuild it.



Perhaps Avignon is best known for the time it served as the seat of the papacy from 1309-1377 when popes fled the corruption of Rome.  Sometimes referred to the Babylonian Exile, seven popes lived there in the formidable Palais des Papes,



in what is recorded as a decadent, luxurious lifestyle. 
Strolling the city revealed hidden treasures and lovely squares, which were once again very quiet during the winter season.



I leave you for now with a favorite impression--the antique French carrousel in the Place de l'Horloge-- and with a promise of more Provence impressions in the days to come.

So with spring just peeking its head around the door and new beginnings at our reach, remember to Grab the Brass Ring and live life to the fullest!

25 comments:

  1. I love this post, Debi! It takes me back to a book I read in my teens by Mary Stewart. The entire novel was set in Provence. Avignon and Les Baux were key locations as well as St-Remy-de-Provence. What fun to see photographs of these beautiful places. I'm so glad you were able to tour them, and if my friends were going to Provence in the Winter, I'd grab my sweater and go, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The South, and Provence, always full of beauty and light!
    Thank you for this wonderful excursion,
    Merisi

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would go to Provence anytime of the year ......I ♥ France.

    The statue in St Pancras is further down from John Betjemen ... and about 9 metres high according to what I have read .. find the clock and it is below it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks to you honey I have been able to go places that I never dreamed of seeing. I am thinking of visiting London in the near future.
    I have not received my invitation to the Royal wedding as of today but I am sure it is in the mail
    Your wonderful for sharing your trips with us
    Love ya
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely trip! I enjoyed myself tremendously!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, Provence. I think it is quite nice that you got to see such a popular area, as Provence, without the bustle of the high tourist season. As always, wonderful shots.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful trip, Debi filled with so much interesting history!! I am definitely taking that brass ring each day!! Love that carousel photo and I look forward to more of your adventures! xxoo :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks like you had a fantastic time in Provence. I actually prefer to explore places in the off season, you have the whole place to yourself. I really need to check out some of the American ladies clubs here in Paris!
    Thanks for all the amazing shots.
    Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful shots! I'm glad you braved the cold!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sometimes it is nice to visit a place when there are not so many tourists - as long as you have a restaurant still opened.
    I recently started a book called A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, so I sincerely thank you for the phootos. He experienced February with an unexpected hard snow that separated villages because of the lack of snowplows. This was at least 20 years ago - perhaps they now have more snowplows.
    Until I took a Latin course a few years ago I did not realize that there were so many Roman ruins throughout Europe, and some still in use.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so pleased you took the journey -Provence is always beautiful and what a delight to see the carousel in Avignon - the same carousel I have as my header - it's ever so pretty.
    Enjoy your week-end Debi
    xx
    "All Things French"

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well it looks like that is one gorgeous place any time of year! I have never been to Provence but it is definitely on my "list"!

    Bets wishes and happy weekend,
    Natasha.

    PS I am still waiting for my invite to the wedding. I assume they must have sent it to the wrong address...
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is nice to travel when not too many people are around and the towns are not crowded. I love the image of the carrousel and I would definitely like to see the Roman ruins also
    Fantastic report!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I so love the title of your blog since you live between two worlds! Oh Debi, PROVENCE IS MY DREAM. I was in Provence for 3 months and loved every moment. Did you ever get down to Eze or St. Paul de Vence or Nice? Those villages and cities were my stomping grounds. Shopping, talking and walking were all I did and I will never forget it. There is such a rich history there and a mélange of cultures that have influenced the beautiful and DISTINCLY Provençal architecture, cuisine and language! Thank you for visiting me tonight. Bonne soirée! Anita

    ReplyDelete
  15. What an adventure you live, Debi!! These places are ones that I have read and drempt of seeing someday...the bucket list! You describe them so well and take just gorgeous pictures...someday you will have wonderful memories of all of this! Each and every photo tells such a story....
    Thankyou for blogging and taking me along on my virtual journey!

    ReplyDelete
  16. We just returned from Provence a few months ago and had such a wonderful time! Your photos brought back great memories. I loved that little pottery shop in Les Baux.

    In fact, we had just moved to Houston right before the trip! (Sugarland) What a wonderful "tale of 2 cities" you have to tell. We are supposed to do the same b/w Houston and Scotland next year. I hope so...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh my... I was so glad to see your comment at Anita's site so I could pop on over. Even though I follow you I always seem to miss seeing your posts come up! And I do so MISS them!!
    This was so interesting!!! I enjoyed it so much and am so (oh my...how many times am I going to use the word "so"???) looking forward to more of this trip! (But I SO am!)
    Have a lovely Sunday!
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  18. The architecture is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Exact day installation personal loans happen to be a make of payday
    cash loans granted to get a four week period stage with emergency
    cases. People don’t have to have a proof of situations’
    disaster, neither of the 2 they must be given surety, credit profile not other things.

    You could possibly package a vacation, various vital expenses or maybe
    even cover up your online business payments – Equivalent day payments mortgages will allow
    you to in any occasions. These days all these lending options are presented
    on line.

    Have a look at my web site :: pożyczka bez bik

    ReplyDelete
  20. Exact working day set up funds will be a kind of online payday loans available for any thirty days period during crisis instances.
    That they don’t demand that evidence of situations’ disaster, neither of them they require
    surety, credit report nor other stuff. You might method a holiday, certain crucial expenditures or even just insure your online business prices – Exact same
    morning installing financial loans will help you in any occasions.
    Right now all these funds can be obtained via the internet.


    My page - kredyty chwilówki

    ReplyDelete
  21. Similar time of day fitting up loans are actually a variety of cash loans
    offered for any few weeks timeframe on critical instances.
    That they don’t want typically the proof of situations’ emergency, not they require surety, credit file nor other stuff.
    Chances are you'll prepare a secondary, certain very important buys or handle your corporation expenses – Equal moment payments funds can help you in a scenarios. In these days a lot of these personal loans are accessible on the web.

    my web page :: pożyczki prywatne

    ReplyDelete
  22. Equal afternoon payments fiscal loans are a make of
    fast payday loans presented for your calendar month span during catastrophe events.

    Many don’t want this proof situations’ urgent situation, not they
    require surety, credit standing none other stuff.
    Chances are you'll system a secondary, quite a few important products or maybe even covers your business bills – Equal daytime installation borrowing products will allow you in different scenarios. Today these kinds of financial products are available over the internet.

    my blog post :: chwilówki

    ReplyDelete
  23. Exact afternoon payment borrowing products will be a variety of
    fast payday loans available for a few weeks time period for urgent scenarios.
    Some people don’t involve the particular evidence of
    situations’ unexpected, neither of the two they are worth giving surety, credit history not other
    stuff. You could approach a holiday, a lot of essential
    acquisitions or go over your internet business expenses – Identical time installing
    financial products will allow you in a instances. Presently those
    lending options are available web based.

    My blog post kredyt bez bik

    ReplyDelete
  24. When іt comes to easіer ., you will dіscoveг your
    thοught payments as wеll аs out-οf-the-ordinary obligations whісh will
    cгeep way up ѕteаlthily getting u . s .
    altоgether unmindful. As an illuѕtrаtion, chancеs are you'll facial area the requirement to travel a powerful poor distant relative together with family group or replace that domestic plumbing on your property. Your truck could possibly wear out and may also have to have primary maintenance tasks as well as you actually or perhaps your household person might drop sad in need of prompt medical help. All these please take a toll with your funds and you might involve pressing capital to hold you over right until the following wage day. You can expect suitable online payday loans to help clients manage for money extremely troubling problems.

    makes awesome grades at related a good mortgage lender aided by the site visitor during require. Most people realise the value regarding using banking institutions who're solid, еxperiencеԁ plus meаning.
    Mоѕt of us гeceive consideгable time tests lоan crеditorѕ to gеt skill іn adѵance of amοng thеm him oг her with our 'network '.

    You can exрect an eхcеllent stagе thаt you can
    chooѕe a good mortgage lеndeг based οn your distinctive demands.


    Feel free to ѵіsit mу web blog ... kredyt studencki

    ReplyDelete
  25. Diѕcoveгing the mortgаgе bank most
    ρeople help to get best cash advance loans is invariablу а good suggestion.
    The more much оf our purchasers be made aware of pеoρle, the more οften they're going to send the application so you can get dollars. With the help of many providers on the market, you've pгe-ownеd
    hence yοu want to produce a superior judgement.
    Gettіng a loan compаny that givеs funds fіscal
    loаns while uѕing preferreԁ prеmiums
    is imρortant. We аll ѕound to generallу be privately regаrding геduced selling
    prіces when cοmpared tо other ѕorts of loan cгeditoгs close to Quarterly гeρort.


    Most рeople are eхperts in enѕuring that yοu haνе the tοp ρractіcal knowledge each and
    evеrу tіme you would lіke a number of аdditіonal moneу.

    Currently onlіne payday loans for аnуone whiсh will haνe a home in Quotes plus that havе inсome.

    Web ѕites large ԁegreeѕ of reνenuе to
    get the dollars you'll need within weeks in anyway. Present bad credit rating borrowing products so that you never end up being nervous that credit score isn’t high plenty of.

    For just one or two a matter of minutes it will be easier towards submit each of our request. And also mission is to make it possible for anyone to implement without the need of every complications. Most of us check with only a few issues in addition to benefit from that data to view the eligibility. The earlier while in the moment for you to sign up for resources, the particular quicker we can buy them permitted in your case.

    The procedure includes all of us specifically depositing that financial resources everyone admit in to your money. If you happen to utilize in the morning everyone just might obtain which will finances the identical moment. Normally, the cash will probably be available to you morning. Present top notch settlement words and we will work it your money can buy to be able to leave your current back again accounts automatically.

    We really wish for one to know you actually aren’t on it'ѕ own focused on so
    that you can acquіre dollarѕ. There iѕ
    gοod clіеnt service folks ωho саutіon.
    You possіbly cаn cοmmunіcate with thеm through
    convеrsation, mobile, anԁ / or electronic mail.
    It's also possible to seek the advice of these people at any time from the afternoon or even day. We tend to also have around the clock home loan running.

    Prior to deciding to take into account finest cash loans with anywhere else, you have to investigate what we should can provide. We are the perfect destination for a get hold of cash advances for your sudden require its possible you have. Web sites the best on the net practical application so that you can get funds funds shortly. Don’t request bad credit score lending options somewhere else and / or you will end up paying out too much money.

    Also visit my web page; banki bez biku

    ReplyDelete