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Published: July 30th 2011
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Typical countryside
View from the Gite looking out over the countryside towards the Luberon National Park. Typical low forest on rocky hills In the morning we decided to try the hiking tracks behind Le Boisset that butt up into the Luberon Regional Park where there are a number of trails throughout the forest. Within a half a kilometre we had lost the track and after many attempts to find the correct one we headed out onto the road and back to the village. We’ll do another try on another day now that we know where the track actually does go, which is out on the road where we were.
After having lunch in the courtyard we headed out in the car to the village on the road we were on in the morning - the small village of Castellet. We were on a very narrow secondary road winding across the face of the Luberon Park, through Auribeau and then to Saignon. This small town is a great example of the hill top towns around Provence. It sits on a high narrow rocky promontory with ruins on the topmost rocks. They are working on rebuilding the town walls. It would be really interesting to see a picture of the town as it used to be. We were able to walk around the remains
Looking down on Saignon
Looking down over the town from the rock promontory of the town walls and climb rocky steps on up to a high flat, but narrow viewing platform. The view out over Apt and the surrounding countryside of Provence way into the distance was spectacular. Dotted over the hills are orange roofed villages surrounded by forest and nested crops amongst the vegetation. We wandered back on down through the narrow streets and paths experiencing the ambience of the place unti we got back to the car.
From here with Lindsay still driving we went onto Bonnieux, another place we had recommended to us. It was another typical old town but not as nice as the last one. Finding a park in these places is pretty hopeless as the streets were not built for cars. Lindsay had to drive on the narrow footpath right up against houses in order for cars coming in the other direction to pass. We found ourselves a cafe with a great view overlooking the town and had drinks and crepes. We found that they had free internet so went and retrieved our Notebooks from the car and followed up our email and news on Stuff. There was nothing of huge consequence happening in New Zealand
Saignon town
This town is well worth a visit with it's ruin atop a huge rock slab or pinnacle but other places in the world are “basket cases”. There are many pluses to living in the Antipodes away from the mayhem of the rest of the world.
Lastly, we headed back to Apt to buy a few more groceries for dinner and the next couple of days. The back country roads around this location have good surfaces in general, but the width leaves a bit to be desired. They are essentially single laned but the real problem is the lack of verge and then drains immediately from the road edge. If traffic does not keep to the side it is a bit hair raising letting opposite traffic past.
The weather today has been a warm 22 to 25 degrees with the threat of an odd shower that did not eventuate. It seems that weather in the north and other countries continues to be unsettled and cold so we are in a good place. Meanwhile, back in New Zealand we heard from my sister and neighbour that there has been snow along the Nelson coast!! This is unheard of and it’s quite ridiculous to have show falling at sea level in this location. By all accounts they have been building snow men in their gardens.
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