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Post by sistereurope on Jan 10, 2008 10:42:34 GMT -5
OK, as a way to help ease my VERY serious PPD, I have decided to throw myself into thinking about my trip with my husband to the south of France this spring. Here's the itinerary so far, but it MAY change: We fly into Nice on March 22st. We stay here for 3 nights: www.villa-la-tour.com/hotel_in_nice.phpleaving on Monday the 24th. We had planned to stay in Provence for 3 nights, then move to Montpellier for 3 nights. This is the part that may change... Then, we have reservations for 3 nights at a small b and b in St Pierre des Champs (near Lagrasse, in the Corbières) From here we plan to explore the area around Carcassone: www.lafargo.fr/Then we head to Barcelona for 4 nights, flying out of there on April 6th. www.marinaviewbcn.com/OK, my dilemma...We planned the Montpellier leg of the trip around the fact that our friend Loïc was going to meet us there to show us around "his home town" (he was born there). Now, it looks like he might not be able to make it  So, FINALLY my question: Since we'll be in the city environments of Nice and Barcelona, I was thinking that maybe we should choose a town in Provence for the 6 nights instead of 3 nights there and 3 nights in Montpellier. That way, we might be able to get a house (which I always prefer). Any suggestions/ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. There seems to be SO much to see there that I want to get in as much as possible! What would YOU do?!?!? |
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Post by annettecinca on Jan 10, 2008 11:11:11 GMT -5
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Post by luvparee on Jan 10, 2008 11:12:24 GMT -5
Sis~ Good idea to help with the PPD!! I find researching a trip almost as much fun as the trip itself! My first suggestion would be to go to your nearest bookstore (Border's/Barnes & Noble) and sit and drink coffee and read their books, especially the DK Eyewitness that have such fabulous color pictures. Research the Luberon area where lots of the perched villages are. In my most humble opinion, the towns to look for would be Roussillon, Bonnieux, Gordes, Lourmarin, St. Remy (not exactly considered the Luberon, but fairly close and very charming), Pernes les Fontaines (our base for 8 nights) , L'Isle sur la Sorgue, and then up north along the wine route into the Dentelles area (Vaison la Romaine, Seguret, Sablet, Gigondas, Chateauneuf de Pape, etc.). Avignon is a big city which I'm not that thrilled about - the gardens at the Palais of the Popes was wonderful, though. Menerbes is the village where Peter Mayle wrote his book, but it's pretty small and, in my opinion, lacks the charm of many of the other villages. Rent the movie "A Good Year" and see the type of landscape you'll be enjoying. Bonnieux, Cucuron, Gordes, and other villages in the Luberon is where the movie was filmed. I LOVED the movie, saw it twice, and I'm going to buy it when it comes down to $10! It's a good hit for a dose of Provence! Although we missed it in 2006, Aix en Provence is a town that I want to spend time in on my next trip to Provence. There's a wealth of information on the web -- www.provence-beyond.com (or .fr) comes to mind at the moment. Cassis was a daytrip we took south and took the boat trip out into the calanques (huge white cliffs) which was a highlight. Cassis is a very cute little harbor town with lots of cafes on the harbor and lots of charm. There's another travel website (www.slowtrav.com) and many of the regulars there travel to Provence, mostly the Luberon area. Lots of information on that forum. Have fun with the research! You will love Provence perhaps as much as Paris, but in a different way!! |
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Post by Darcy on Jan 10, 2008 11:12:26 GMT -5
Since you asked what I would do, I would stay six nights in one place because I don't like moving every three or four days. It's too time and energy consuming. Annette, great apt! Sis, because your trip will be over the Easter holidays, make your reservations asap!  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 10, 2008 11:19:43 GMT -5
Also, if you're staying six night in one place you might want to consider renting a gite because then you can go to the market days in surrounding villages and have some fun in the mornings, but still do sightseeing in the afternoons (and since it's off season, I'm sure there would be good availability and reasonable prices).
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 10, 2008 11:28:27 GMT -5
Yes, the more I think about it the more I am leaning toward staying one place for the 6 nights. I'm like you Darcy...we usually always rent a house or apartment in once place as opposed to moving every few nights. But WHEW, what selection!!! We LOVE Chateauneuf-de-pape and gigondas wines, so a trip to that region is a must. But I still can't decide which village/town to use as our base! I want to see Aix too, and Avignon is reported to have some excellent restaurants...and I love the looks of Gordes and Lourmarin... and Saignon was also on my list. But as far as problems go, this is a good one to have to solve  |
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 10, 2008 11:30:37 GMT -5
Annette - that apartment is already booked, but I agree, it looked great!
The middle section of our trip is the only thing that's up in the air...we have reservations for the rest of the trip (we will be in Nice on Easter.)
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 12, 2008 21:44:39 GMT -5
I think we're going to go with this place that I found in Slow Trav: www.rentourhomeinprovence.com/The woman that I've been dealing with has been SO nice...the price is great, as is the location! I have to tell you that I feel so blessed that I am able to take this trip so soon after my trip to Paris. I am very excited to experience a part of France that I have heard so much about, but have never seen with my own eyes. I'll be sure to keep you posted, especially our Thelma and Lousie gang ;D |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 12, 2008 21:52:42 GMT -5
Wow, this looks great - and reasonably priced, as well. I hope you do this, so you can report back to "the group"!
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 12, 2008 22:33:14 GMT -5
Sis - You are indeed blessed for being able to take this trip so shortly after your holiday Paris trip! Both trips will be very different of course, but very special. Time seems to be flying, and before you know it, you will be flying again........you lucky ducky! I can't wait to hear all about it. |
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velreid
New Member
The New me, after Paris!
Posts: 47
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Post by velreid on Jan 12, 2008 23:14:12 GMT -5
I have to say that I am jealous of SE going to Provence with her HUSBAND. OFfall the nerve. She needs to take her "poor ole mother", don't you all agree??? Those 2 apartments are wonderful. WAH, I want to go.   |
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 12, 2008 23:38:57 GMT -5
Hey, Velreid! You're the mommy - you're not supposed to be jealous of your little girl.  But that doesn't mean that WE aren't allowed to be green with envy. ;D |
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Post by Anne on Jan 13, 2008 4:07:45 GMT -5
Sister, those two appartmnents are lovely decorated . Which one of two are you renting ? Lourmarin is the village that we visited on Dec 30 and that I posted photos of . Make sure to visit the shop of the Coopérative Viticole on place Barthelemy : our friend, who is a regular, took us there : excellent and reasonably-priced wines (including Beaume de Venise  ), plus some oils, vinegars, jams, spreads like anchoïade or tapenade, etc ... and the guy was quite friendly . |
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 13, 2008 11:00:34 GMT -5
My mom can whine that she's jealous all she wants, because I know that deep down she is very happy that I can do these things...she's even taking care of my daughter while I'm away.(she is a great mom even though she is in many ways more like my sister!) Besides, I know that she is greateful that I now have a husband that I want to spend 2 weeks away alone with!! ;D
Anyway, we are going with the smaller of the apartments L'Oustaloun, since it's just the 2 of us and we figured that we won't be inside all that much. As I mentioned, the owner has been very nice to deal with so far. I like the things she wrote in her site...
Anne, thanks for the tip...any other suggestions for the area would be greatly appreicated. My husband has been to Nice, but this is the first time for Provence for both of us (and the rest of the trip too for that matter!)
Joy...I know that you've spent time there too, so I appreciate the input on the must see villages!
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Post by geordy on Jan 13, 2008 15:18:58 GMT -5
PR and your daughter will be singing show tunes and plotting her next trip while you are gone! Your accommodations look great. I've only ever been to Aix and Avignon but highly recommend both! I was heading to Nimes and Arles before the layoff...if I had gone that was when they had the bad floods so indeed "mysterious ways" . I do still want to get there so go and report!!!  |
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Post by luvparee on Jan 15, 2008 16:55:12 GMT -5
Sis -- What a fabulous place you found in Lourmarin!! Lots of charm! Is there an outdoor area where you can drink your cafe creme in the AM and wine in the PM?
If you only go to one market in Provence, do the Sunday market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue. I think I mentioned in a prior post to get there around 8:30A so you can get a fairly decent parking place. There are lots of places to eat lunch, some on little bridges over the water, so
keep your eyes open for your perfect spot, make a reservation, and then head there for lunch after you're done with the market.
Roussillon could possibly be the most beautiful place I have ever seen. All the terra cotta, ochre, rock, texture, etc., of the buildings blows me away every time I see it! And it continually changes as the light moves across it.
Bonnieux is a very charming village/town and I wish we would have had more time to spend there.
I noted Sivergues on the map that was linked from your accommodation website. I believe that I have read that there is a goat farm there and, although I've read it's not the easiest place to find, you can make a reservation for lunch there -- I think the menu is what they choose for that day and when it's gone, it's gone. Obviously, goat cheese would be the star on the menu, I would think. I can't get enough of goat cheese - so different from what you can buy in the US!
It's so fun thinking back to all the fabulous places we saw in that area even though we didn't make it to Lourmarin. It IS on the list!! I'm going to bookmark your little spot for the future.
Kaydee of SlowTrav is a wealth of information regarding Bonnieux particularly, but also the entire Luberon area. She is always very quick in her responses online.
Enjoy the anticipation!! and the planning!
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 16, 2008 8:49:22 GMT -5
hey Joy, thanks for the input! I'm not sure if the apartment has an outdoor spot...that's ok, we don't plan to be there a whole lot! Whew, there are so many places to see in that area (and so much food to eat and wine to taste). Lourmarin seems very central to where we want to visit, and from what I've read here and elsewhere it's a ncie place in and of itself!
We are already planning to go to the goat farm for lunch. I did read Kaydee's posts on Slow Trav (I don't post there but do read sometimes to get hints). I think we're going to try a restaurant in Bonnieux that I read about there as well.
I will remember to try to make the Sunday market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue...and of course I will post pics!
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Post by jcjflorida on Jan 16, 2008 18:06:28 GMT -5
Sis, you are so lucky to be going to France again. The apartment that you picked out looks charming and the location looks good for lots of day trips. Many of the towns are small and you can see several in a day without feeling rushed. Ooohhh the wine and goat cheese and the sausages that are in the markets! You will be in heaven.
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But that doesn't mean that WE aren't allowed to be green with envy. ;D
), plus some oils, vinegars, jams, spreads like anchoïade or tapenade, etc ... and the guy was quite friendly .
hahahha