Blogs from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, Europe - page 7

Today we drive to a cute village called Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Humans have occupied the area since Neolithic era. Only about 500 people live here now. The village is on the River Sorgue. The river is fed by water that comes out of an underground spring at the feet of a steep cliff. This is the biggest spring in France and the fifth largest spring in the world. The water is clean and cool. A robot went to the bottom of the spring to 1010 feet. In 1946 Jacques Cousteau was almost killed while searching for the bottom of the spring. An air compressor used to fill his tank had taken in its own exhaust fumes and produced carbon monoxide nearly killing him before he could reach the surface. Cousteau went down 328 feet but did not find ... read more

We are headed to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to hike on a 4.8 km trail. We take the number 2 tram to Nice Port. We walk a few blocks and take the number 15 bus to Sain’t-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It is sprinkling when we arrive so we find a outdoor restaurant with large umbrellas. We have fish and chips which seems appropriate since we are at a port. After lunch we follow a group of people who look like they are out for a hike. We find the trail a short distance from the port. The trail is well posted with signs and maps along the way. The trail is famous for passing by some of the most expensive villas in the world. The walk is gentle with some small uphills and downhills. They advertise that if you are afraid of ... read more

We leave Nice and head south to an island called Porquerolles. We take tram two then tram one to get to the train station Nice Ville. The train takes us to Toulon. In Toulon we take a train to Hyers. In Hyers we take a taxi to the port at Tour Fondue. At the port we take a ferry to Porquerolles. The island town is small, we walk to our hotel which is five rooms above a restaurant. We spend two nights here. The room is small, there are ants n the room and I wonder when the last time the hard wood floors were cleaned. I wear my flappers when in the room. All this for $250 per night. So not worth it. The town square is surrounded by restaurants and shops. We have sea ... read more

Today we take the number 2 tram to the Girabaldi stop. We check out the numerous cafes in the large plaza. When Mark spots fish and chips on one menu our decision is made. We both have the fish and chips and it is very good. We then catch the number 15 bus to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The bus drops us right at the entrance to the villa. The villa was built on 17 acres by Beatrice de Rothschild of the Rothschild banking and wine making family. Beatrice was a collector of paintings by the grand masters, rare rugs and rare items of furniture. She also collected porcelain and some walls are covered in tapestries. A audio guide is included in the entrance fee. Mark and I enjoy seeing the villa which is furnished in the original furniture ... read more

Donderdag 9/9/2021 – Apt Dinsdag 7 september hebben we een korte verplaatsing gemaakt van Avignon naar Apt, een leuk stadje gelegen in het Parc natural régional du Luberon. Het stadje Apt dateert uit de Romeinse tijd en hoewel er niet veel van overblijft, is het nog steeds een stad waar toeristen graag komen. Vooral het oude centrum doet nog zeer middeleeuws aan. In de omgeving van Apt zijn er prachtige fietstochten te maken zoals de Véloroute du Calavon, een oude spoorwegbedding (alla Leireken) doorheen de lavendelvelden en 'Les Ocres à Vélo' langs de okermijnen van de streek. Deze laatste wel met +500 hoogtemeters die we nu dus maar schrappen van ons programma. Zoals we ook al ons oorspronkelijk programma al erg ingekort hebben om F's ellebogen en knieën te laten genezen. Ondertussen wel rustig geprofiteerd van ... read more