blue doors

We started this morning with a beautiful breakfast spread, jams, coffee, fruits in a sunny dining room at the hotel.

Making our way gradually north toward home, we stopped in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, marveled at all the quirky antiques at the street brocante, and caught the end of the produce market for some delicious olives and clementines.

We found our picnic spot at the base of Venasque before making the trip up to wander the little hilltop town. 

I was especially intrigued by the short, colorful doorways, stopping for too many photos of the portes de la Provence. From here, it was time to make our way back to the highway and home. I hope to make another trip south when the lavender and poppy fields are in bloom, but it's also nice to enjoy Provence as it's just beginning to come out of hibernation.

early blooms

This weekend we took an overnight trip to Provence. The weather is getting a little warmer and springtime is slightly ahead of us just a few hours drive south. We saw blossoms starting for the first time this year, and a hint of an early Spring.

We stopped in St. Remy first to walk around the town, which was strangely quiet. We a just ahead of the beginning of tourist season, but the streets were surprisingly empty.

Next we stopped in Aureille for a short walk and a picnic on the rocky hillside.

Aureille.

The weather was a bit cooler and cloudier than we hoped, so we made our way to check-in at the hotel in Eygalieres.

We stayed at an old shepherd's house-turned hotel, Le Mas du Pastre, outside town, surrounded by olive groves. It was a pretty place  to explore, and would be absolutely magical in the summer. 

It also had a small caravan of gypsy roulottes to stay in.

We walked to the Chapelle Saint-Sixte, just down the road to catch the sunset. Although we were hoping to dine at a really yummy restaurant in town, unfortunately, we were just a few days early before it re-opened from it's winter closure.