Our village, like many in southern France, has a semi-permanent population; one of the first questions asked on being introduced is whether or not we are here all year round. A fairly cosmopolitan atmosphere is enjoyed here, particularly throughout the summer months, evident at the annual 14th July celebrations opposite …

For my birthday last month, Robin and I headed off for an indulgent long weekend. When in Europe eh? We had been to the Southern parts of the Gorges du Verdon where you’ll find many turquoise lakes. …Continue reading here for more on Ashley and Robin’s road trip to the visit …

Contributor blog post by Jill Cowdry: As days become warmer, it’s impossible to resist the urge to get out – attention turns to more exercise and a spring swim in the med.  A short drive from Aix en Provence or Marseilles the magical Calanques are a special place to walk, breath …

Are you an intellectually curious traveler? Context Travel aims to be different, far removed from the average tourist tour, and certainly not with just any tour guides. Tour leaders at Context Travel are called docents, with good reason these are multi-degreed (MBA, Ph.D.) specialists in their fields of study who are keen …

Suggested Song: The Ties that Bind, Bruce Springsteen Suggested Drink: Domain Saint Aix rosé I’m back in the U.S. for 3 weeks. I always miss home when travelling, but I’m sharing fun times with people I love, mixing in a bit of work that I enjoy, getting my fix of …

Take a road trip to a world away from lavender-scented fields, perched villages, and candy-coloured shutters. Head to the Camargue! The marshland and brackish waters where the Rhone River finally meets the Mediterranean define Provence’s “wild west.” Created in 1986, the natural wetland preserve is 100,000 hectares in size (read …

When Ginger and Nutmeg first ventured to Provence they felt prepared for the adventure. After all, it was not their first trip to France, they had previously biked in the region, and they had read Peter Mayle’s books – so they were confident in their basic understanding of the region. …

Mid-April saw the round of tastings introducing the new 2015 Provence wine vintage came to a close with that for Côteaux Varois en Provence. Held in a beautiful location, it is the prettiest and most enjoyable of all the tastings. …Continue reading here for details on this springtime wine tasting at Abbaye …

On one of our many walking routes, there are several rows of quince trees (coing in French) which we saw planted just a few years ago. They have a lovely blossom in spring and produce large fruit, but what is interesting is their love of wet clay soil. We took …

According to Wikipedia, York, Pennsylvania is known as the White Rose City a place with so many well-preserved buildings that it is considered an “architectural museum.” Marjorie Williams has recently published her second book Markets of Provence we asked her how growing up in York gave her an appreciation for shopping …