STITCHING WITH IRIS

September 18, Tuesday

We had breakfast at the hotel.  Eggs less cooked than anywhere else, which were always undercooked for our taste.  The only thing I can say about it was it was awful.

We had scheduled a tour through Viator before we left home.  Because we didn’t really know where we were going to meet the tour guide we took a taxi.  Low and behold the driver was the same one that had brought us from the train station to the hotel on Monday.  Because we had been given the wrong information from the front desk of the hotel about how long it would take us to get to the meeting spot we were a good half hour or more early.

Our first stop was the hilltop village of Gordes.  Before entering Gordes we stopped at an overlook took some pictures. When we got into the town they were having a market.  We walked through the market and I bought some lavender sachets as Christmas presents.  We also bought some cheese and sausage and some nougat candy.

One of the prettiest villages in Provence (one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages'), Gordes is perched on top of a hillside around its historic castle.

Throughout history, the castle has protected its residents from foreign attacks, plagues, and World War II bombings. The views over the Luberon countryside are stunning, and the village itself is a warren of cobbled streets and ancient houses.

Then on to Funtaine de Vaucluse.  Shady town center.  Bob and a couple of the other members of the group went for a scenic walk.  I tried but the terrain got a little rough and I knew we had a long way to go so I turned back and sat watching people until Bob got back.  We walked down the street and found a little place to have some lunch.  We had Croque Monsieur, French ham (one thin slice – they shouldn’t have bothered) and cheese sandwiches and ice tea at this little restaurant across from the river.  On the other hand, bob asked for beaucoup de glacon (lots of ice), and the waiter brought a whole big glass full of ice cubes!  It’s unbelievably difficult to convey to the French the American need for a REALLY ice cold drink on a hot day.  Baffling!    Unfortunately we couldn’t see the river because there was a restaurant right across from us blocking the view.  We walked on up the street a little ways looking in the shops and stopped to have an ice cream cone but after standing there for a little while and no one waiting on us we just continued walking.  Then walked back to the meeting place in the center of the town.  Bob realized we didn’t have much cash on us so since we were early at the meeting place he found and ATM and got us some Euros.   Remi picked us up and then off we went to the next village.  By the way, the Russel Crowe movie “A Good Year” (2006) was filmed in the Luberon, including Gordes, Bonnieux, and Vaucluse.

Isle-sur-Surgue

L'Isle sur la Sorgue is one of those places in Provence that one has to see. This "island city" lies at the foot of the Vaucluse plateau in the plains of Comtat Venaissin. Its colors are nature's green and the bright reflection of the water shining from the several canals running through its center

We walked along one of the cannels and then down a side street.  We needed to go to the bathroom so we stopped at an ice cream shop had an cone and used their bathroom.  Continued on our route back to meet up with the rest of the group.

Next on our tour was Roussillon

Roussillon

Roussillon is one of the historical counties of the former Principality of Catalonia, corresponding roughly to the present-day southern French département of Pyrénées-Orientales save Fenouillèdes. It may also refer to Northern Catalonia or French Catalonia, the first used by Catalan-speakers and the second used by French-speakers. A 1998 survey found that 34% of respondents stated they speak Catalan, and a further 21% understand it.

Beautiful ochre cliffs.  Bob took a walk up a hill to take some panoramic pictures.  I stayed down and sat on the bridge just watching people.  After Bob came  back down we went into an ice cream shop and had a drink.  Then walked back up the street to meet our group and guide.

On the way to the next village we stopped at Pont Julien, an old Roman Bridge.