The Ruins of Provence - An Adventure

One of the greatest things about Provence is that there are ruins everywhere. From the well preserved Roman sites in Arles to the remnants of a 10th century château in Les Baux de Provence, the past is still very much present. And unlike in many French gift shops, there are no signs stating “touch with your eyes.” Climbing on and around the ruins is part of the fun. the ruins in Oppède-le-Vieux is a real find. Meaning Old Oppède, this tiny village is nestled into the Petit Luberon mountains and a short drive uphill from the more populous town of Oppède. You’ll find it strange that none of the guidebooks has more than a sentence or two on Oppède-le-Vieux. The ruins there are one of Provence’s best kept secrets, with their open access and breathtaking views. To get to the ruins, you walk through the arch underneath the bell tower and start heading uphill. The walk is a bit steep, over well-worn stones. Footing gets a bit precarious once you enter the château ruins and there are some steep drop-offs. I’d definitely recommend wearing a good pair of sneakers. The first building you’ll come upon as you make your way up the hill is a Romanesque church. Dating back to the 13th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, Notre-Dame-d’Alydon is currently undergoing a renovation. Inside faded frescoes add splashes of color. The château ruins are a mix of walls, windows and arches, with passageways that test one’s fear of heights. On one side you have a view of the tree-covered mountains, on the other the valley and surrounding villages. There are no railings so you’ll want to be careful near the edges and keep a close eye on any younger visitors. After you finish exploring the ruins, the cafe beside the bell tower is a nice place for a leisurely lunch or coffee. You’ll be hard pressed to find it in most guidebooks, but with its charm and off-the-beaten-path location, Oppède-le-Vieux is a great place to discover.

French women DO NOT WEAR EARRINGS.

One of the joys of visiting France is always taken up by long hours hanging out at local cafes and watching the French world go by. I am always looking out for what the locals ( Women that is - I find their style sets up what will happen in fashion in the next couple of months.) are wearing and always trying to get a handle on what makes the French, French. 

One of my observations and now vouched for by my French friends is this, that French women do not wear earrings, or most of them, it seems don't. I have no idea why, but it's true. So ladies visiting France, lock up your earrings and leave them at home.

C'est la vie

One Of My Favorite Ways To Explore France - Hands Down

  Barging is my favorite way to journey within France. Self-driving barging is something I do year after year. It’s a bit more work and you need to be somewhat adventurous and a self starter, but there is also, passenger barges from 6 to 20 people, with its own compliment of crew and chef that is also wonderful and they do the same canals as the Self-driving barges.

Here is a video from my favorite barge rental company, ‘Le Boat’, that I hope will give you an idea as to how self-driving barging works.

                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Paris Mall "Rats"...Need A Shopping Mall Fix?

 Not that anyone going to Paris, wants to see another mall!, But if you need a Mall Fix , especially on a  Sunday ( when most things are closed on that day), I can recommend  Quartre Temps, just across the Seine in the La Defense area. 

 Looking for somewhere to shop on Sunday? There are many shops open in the Marais, at St Germain des Prés, the Champs Elysées and the Carrousel du Louvre. But for shopping addicts who are looking for a real mall, Quatre Temps (& CNIT) at La Defense are open daily, with over 250 boutiques such as the Apple Store, H&M, Zara, FNAC, Go Sport, Lacoste, Uniqlo, Muji, Toys R Us and others. There are also food chains and cinemas, as usual in malls. Shops are open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm (Apple Genius Bar open from 8am), Sundays 11am-7pm. To get there, just take the line 1 metro all the way to the end station La Défense