Tales from Provence

Today, we are on the TGV from Nice to Paris. We just stopped at the Avignon station, where we started the B&R tour only a week ago. We can’t help but wish we could hop off the train and meet our tour group and guides for another week of hikes, French food, singing, dancing, wine, pastis and nightly parties. Instead, we will enjoy a few more nights in Paris before coming home to Portland….maybe not such a terrible alternative.
Thank you so much to Diane and Rick. We loved every minute of the tour!!!

The last time we updated, we were enjoying a night in the elegant Hotel Mirande in Avignon. We arrived on the 6th and had just enough time to take a quick walk around the city before dinner. The next morning, we met our fabulous tour group and guide, Enrica in the lobby. From there, we rode a bus to Fontvieille to meet our second guide, Erik, at a Boulodrome (a place were people play Petanque). Erik led our first hike of the week up to a Roman Aquaduct. Our walk featured views of Les Alpilles (the little Alps) and took us toward Maussane. As we walked into Maussane’s town square for lunch, the bell tower welcomed us with a few chimes. We spent that afternoon by the pool followed by cocktails and dinner in Eygalieres.

On the 8th, we followed Enrica through the Camargue marais. Marais is French for swamp...but this is nothing like our Northwest wetlands. The Camargue marais is home to white horses, wild boars and pink flamingos. We tasted olive oil and figs at an Olive farm and then continued onto lunch at Marie Pierre’s Domaine de Malaga. Domaine de Malaga is a farm where Marie-Pierre, a former horseback-riding bullfighter, raises bulls and trains her horses.

All the while, we were hiking from place to place and getting to know our guides and the other travelers. Coincidentally, our group was made up of three other graduates and their parents. Shout out to Allegra, Jacquie, Laura, Steven, Ginny, Marlene and Taylor! The other three couples knew each other from another B&R tour. We quickly learned why they were repeat B&R travelers. To Stew and Patty; Louis and Irma; and Ken and Tammy: We miss you already!

Highlights from the 9th included a walk in the hills with nature expert Heidi, the ruins of Glanum, a surprise musical picnic, and a tour of Vincent Van Gogh’s asylum. In the morning, we had some time to peruse the famous St. Remy market. During the next (and sadly, the last) two days, we hiked to and explored the towns of Gordes, Bonnieux and Lacoste. We also discovered that the group was blessed with extensive musical talent (especially when it came to songs from South Pacific and Jersey Boys). Not only did we sing during meals, Erik brought his guitar and serenaded us along parts of the trail.

Our last night on the tour was a festive but bittersweet celebration. Of course, there was great food, delicious wine and even more singing, dancing and merriment. Here are some pictures from the week.