But it all started in Avignon, above the Pope's Palace: a welcome meeting and apéro with Charlotte, my co-guide.
Our first hike took us to the village of Châteauneuf du Pape, the king of Rhône Valley wines
Our picnic lunch in Châteauneuf du Pape, including a glass of 2005 Mont Redon for moi...
Strolling along the farming tracks between the parcels of vines:
We then headed for the town of Vaison la Romaine, our hotel in the medieval centre. Below we enter through the old village gates:
Charlotte mapping out our route to visit the Tuesday morning market in Vaison:
An evening stroll to the castle ruins set atop the medieval town:
On Tuesday morning we had a special morning with a wine maker in the tiny village of Suzette...
...learning about the different varietals...
...how to taste them...
... pressing the bunches to extract the juices...
...requiring some help...
...and collecting the sweet nectar...
...followed by a gourmet Provençal picnic of course!
To work off our picnic we hiked up to the local summit -- Saint Amand -- where the views reach across the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range and the Rhône Valley:
In the evening, in our hotel's garden, we enjoyed a special wine & cheese evening complete with the cheeses of Josiane Déal's award winning cheese shop:
A view from our garden, Vaison's imposing belfry in the foreground:
Wednesday's walk took us to the picturesque village of Gordes, with its labyrinth of cobbled streets:
After which the two guides had a bit of a rest in the van:
In the evening we settled into our hotel in Lourmarin: le Mas de Guilles...
...complete with a champagne apéritif:
On Thursday morning the skies opened up, and rather than hiking in the rain we visited a candied fruit factory, where a 5th generation candy maker is still making candied fruit using traditional methods:
That's right: an entire candied cantaloupe melon, which didn't last long during our next picnic:
by the end of the morning the skies began to clear, and we headed to the village of Lacoste for a visit:
Above the village of Lacoste:
A view of the village of Bonnieux, from Lacoste:
In the afternoon we went to the cedar forest at the crest of the Luberon, where the view to the south extended to the Mediterranean Sea:
On Thursday evening we had a tour of Paula Marty's herb farm outside the village of Lourmarin:
savoury (one of the herbs of Provence):
Ralph:
We enjoyed a home-cooked meal at Paula's, made with the very herbs from her garden:
more Ralph:
On Friday morning we visited the 3000 year-old Buoux fort, hidden in the heart of the Luberon mountains. The old rock graves aren't big enough for 6'2" Canadians:
Charlotte atop the fort:
Ralph yet again, trying to hide in the 2000 year-old Roman grain silos:
At the very top of the fort, with sheer cliffs on all sides:
Exiting via the secret staircase: the oldest par of the fort.
In the afternoon we visited the village of Roussillon and its famed ocher mines:
On Saturday morning, leaving from our new base in Saint Rémy de Provence, we head to the top of the Alpilles range for stunning panoramas...
... and a surprise lunch at Lolo's farm:
A game of pétanque in the evening:
... and choosing our desserts at dinner. Yum.
On Sunday we headed to Mont Ventoux to conquer Provence's highest mountain:
Heading up the scree towards the summit:
Made it! Thanks to Ralph, Sandy, Betsy, Russ, Scott, Gail, Tad, Beth, Kurt, Peggy, Chris, Mary, Rick, Fabio & Vivian for a fabulous week!
And a big thanks to Charlotte, who makes co-guiding fun. And easy.
