Les Baux de Provence

Blue skies - a day to take off and explore!

First we Facebook chatted with Si and Chloe and caught up on all their news. So good to see them and hear their voices.

Then - onwards and upwards - literally

Today we went to Les Baux de Provence - one of those little hillside villages you see on calendars and never dream of visiting.

It was about half an hour's drive, and the road became narrower and narrower. Paul was worried as our rental car is not little, and there wasn't much room for cars to pass.
Eventually we arrived at a series of carparks. Luckily we kept driving until the third lot - we would have had a long walk!
There is no vehicular access inside the village except for the 500 permanent inhabitants. We climbed steps and wound our way through cobbled lanes to the bottom of the village, then popped into the info office, and headed on up.

Les Baux de Provence

It was unbelievably beautiful. I tried to imagine how it would be in summer, when about 1.5 million visitors pass through. I think we saw 4 people all day!!!! Most of the shops were shut, and since it was by now 1 minute past 12 noon, we thought we should eat first, and explore later. We found the 1 open restaurant, so decided to chose that one! Lucky we did, as some locals and the other 4 visitors then arrived and the little place was full. The menu was sketchy to say the least, we had crepes, not great but ok. Amelia noticed some other guests struggling to read the menu (no English here!)
so went and helped them, they were very grateful.

Amelia helping out with the French menu

Then we continued up through the village, just gorgeous cobbled lanes, steps up to cottages each side, hard to put into words so hope the pictures do it justice.



At the top of the village is a partially ruined chateau from the 12th century. We collected audio guides and spent hours roaming and learning. Some of the chateau has been restored, and there are many illustrations scattered about to give a realistic picture of life in those times.

The views were stupendous! 

We saw the keep, the battlements, ramparts, and the village houses beside the castle - bakery, smith etc.



Around 4pm it started to become cold, so we retraced our steps back to the car and headed home. A quick stop at the Super-U for chips and nuts - we had been invited to drinks at 5pm.
Drinks was fun - we were at our hosts for the week, beside their roaring log fire. She is a kiwi, he is ozzie, a very nice and friendly couple.
Then the door opened and who should walk in but the other guests from the restaurant at lunchtime whom Amelia helped with the menu! They are the 2 couples staying upstairs from us. One couple live in Rome (he's with the UN), the other couple are from Lower Hutt. A lovely few hours ensued getting to know each other and swapping travel stories.
So another day ends - it has been full of new places, wonderful sights, and friendly people. Life is good.