After breakfast the next morning, I started heading deep into the vast green hills of Provence. The drive into Marseille was absolutely stunning and I am now certain that I need to go back.
I drove and drove, sown every little windy road, stopping in tiny hill-top villages along the way.
The Abbaye Nortre-Dame de Senanque is an icon in Provence, so I had to stop and see it for myself. It was built in 1148 and is in pristine condition...I just love Europe for that sort of thing.
As the day went on, a thunderstorm blew in. It was absolutely beautiful.
What a perfect opportunity to explore some underground caves!
After a very long, full day, I finally made my way to my Bed and Breakfast for the next couple of nights...a beautiful chateau in the countryside. The surround farmland was full of vineyards and orchards and strawberry fields! I went into the nearest little town and got pizza to bring back to my room and took a long bath in the dreamy bathtub and listened to the storm before calling it a night.
The next morning, I went down for breakfast with my hosts and their World Champion kitty that had the most most gorgeous blue eyes, though I couldn't get him to look at me.
Then, it was off to explore once more. I started off in Les Baux. There's an old fortified village with winding pathways through little shops and cafes and galleries that lead up to an imposing castle atop the highest peak. Traces of civilization there date back to 6000 BC. I was literally the very first person there and had the entire site to myself for about 45 minutes which was so nice.
My final stop was Saint Remy and then I went back to my Bed and Breakfast to relax by the pool for the afternoon. Every single town I went through was just so quaint and picturesque...just as I'd envisioned.
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| How cute was the facade of this perfumery?! |
I had a deep craving for some Kebab and found a little hole in the wall market that had some on the menu. I pulled up and had second thoughts...it looked less than appetizing from the outside but I gave it a whirl and it was one of the most delicious meals that I've ever had in my life. Even the salad dressing was just incredible. I ate every morsel AND ordered a plate to go for a late night snack, which I devoured a couple of hours later.
After breakfast, I hit the road northeast...into the Alps! ...well, technically into the Chartreuse mountains.