November 2016
I would like to share with you some photos of my short but sweet experience in Provence, particularly in Venasque. I have always loved Venasque. There is something in the place that draws me to it, like Peter Mayle perhaps. He is the author of the book "A Year in Provence." I read it a couple of times and every time I read it, I would always chuckle, laugh out loud, daydream or even think of purchasing a house in Provence and live there. (Taray!)
After using the remote countryside of Provence as an annual getaway from life in England, Peter Mayle and his wife decide to make the move permanent and purchase a gorgeous old farmhouse. What they didn't realise was that included in the purchase were some very comical neighbours and a myriad of other eccentric characters who call Provence home.
The book unravels just like the seasons with twelve chapters outlining each month of the year. In this way the reader experiences the biting cold of winter in January, gets to watch the land and its inhabitants slowly come alive in the spring of March and feel the glorious sunshine of July. Part memoir, part travel guide and part beginners guide to Provence, Mayle's often amusing descriptions and experiences give the reader an intimate and honest look inside what it is really like to be a permanent resident of Provence, rather than a temporary visitor.
Even after loads of language practise Mayle and his wife realise over their first dinner with the neighbours, Faustin and Henriette, that their textbook french is useless against the rich, drawling version native to Provence. Still, they understand early on that a common love of good food, good wine and good humour is enough of a universal language to get them through while their french skills catch up.
In the mean time life is prioritised around getting the central heating in the house fixed, and learning a thing or two about French work customs from Didier and his entourage, the local builders on the job. Mayle and his wife literally eat their way through many of the restaurants and cafes around the region and provide more than enough details to get the tastebuds into overdrive.
Acres and acres of vineyard...
Cherry tress... but no more cherries. :-(
The fruits were already harvested.
Some trees were shedding yellow leaves because of the season - autumn in November. But it felt like winter already!
We went up to the town of Venasque. This is the old fortress of the place. It was windy and cold. Freezing cold, actually!
The entrance (port) to the town. We decided to hike all the way up. Only light vehicles can go up because of the narrow road and alley.
As we go up, we noticed that houses were all locked up for the winter season. The residents would usually spend winter season outside of Provence, especially the old ones because of the harsh weather. They call the harsh wind "mistral".
From wikipedia...
The mistral (Catalan: Mestral, Greek: Μαΐστρος, Croatian:Maestral) is a strong, cold, northwesterly wind that blows from southern France into the Gulf of Lion in the northern Mediterranean, with sustained winds often exceeding 66 km/h (41 mph), sometimes reaching 185 km/h (115 mph).[1] It is most common in the winter and spring, and strongest in the transition between the two seasons. Periods of the wind exceeding 30 km/h (19 mph) for more than sixty-five hours have been reported.
The mistral is usually accompanied by clear, fresh weather, and it plays an important role in creating the climate of Provence. It can reach speeds of more than 90 km/h (56 mph), particularly in the Rhône Valley. Its average speed during the day can reach about 50 km/h (31 mph), calming noticeably at night. The mistral usually blows in winter or spring, though it occurs in all seasons. It sometimes lasts only one or two days, frequently lasts several days, and sometimes lasts more than a week.[5]
Notice that all houses were all really locked up for the season. But the place is still charming.
We reached the summit of the place where the chapel of the town is located. The image of the Virgin Mary here is similar to that of NDV but I was told it was different.
The view from the top is just magnifique!
(Click the upper right corner of the main photo to view slideshow.)
Provence, whatever season it may be, will definitely charm you the way it delighted me.
Peter Mayle fell in love with Provence. I can say that I did, too!
Graceful and bustling
Colors of red, green, yellow
Courtly traditions
- At 'yan ang sabi ni Manang!
Provence, France
November 2016