Provence Properties

My Summer To-Do List in Provence

28 days and counting until I board Air France and say "Bonjour Provence!" This year I will spend one week assisting students from the photojournalism department of the University of Nebraska.  They have rented a home through Provence Properties for 3 weeks and I have the great fortune to share with them some of the highlights.  Deciding what to see and where to visit is difficult because the choices are endless.

We plan on spending a day photographing Leonard Blair and his band Gig Street.  They will be participating in a music festival on June 21st.  France welcomes the beginning of summer on this day and free concerts can be found all over the country.  I can't wait to "village hop", listen to some great music, soak up the festive atmosphere and a few glasses of Cote du Rhone as well :-)

I hoped to get the students a group tour of the Cezanne Exhibit in Aix en Provence, but all group tickets are already sold out for June.  A gentleman from the Public Department suggested I visit the website www.fnac.com for possible tickets.  I did find some tickets here, so wanted to be sure to pass this along to any interested visitors.

The rest of my stay will be spent doing something that I love ~ discovering Provence.

I expect these are a few of the things that’ll be on my itinerary:

«   Visiting beautiful homes

«   Meeting homeowners and embarrassing myself with numerous French language faux pas

«   Wildly pulling my Smart car off the road because something I just saw took my breath away and I will have to photograph it

«  Lingering over 2 hour lunches, with an optional and delightful after-lunch sieste

«  Endless people watching from a sidewalk cafe

«   Cooling my feet off in the Sorgue river and my body in the Mediterranean Sea

«   Walking through lavender fields inhaling as deeply as possible

«    Gazing at the milky way on a quiet evening

«   Stealing cherries while crossing an orchard on my morning walk

More than anything I hope to expand my understanding of the fabulous French and discover new treasures in this place which keeps calling me back time and again.

Don't miss l'Isle sur la Sorgue

The medieval town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue is built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue river, 7 km downstream from its source at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. The river flows through, past, in and around the town, adding a special character and beauty to the village. Walking along the canals you will notice how they run between the narrow winding streets. There are little bridges to cross and great wheels to look at with mossy blades turning in the river.

Notre-Dame-des-Anges church in the center of the "vieille ville" was a Collegial church in 1222. Rebuilt in the 17th century, three sides still show signs of its age; the front is refurbished, and includes a lovely clock showing the time, date and phases of the moon.

The church is surrounded by cafés and shops, and the many shopping streets radiating out from this center have mouth-watering smells and window displays.

Antique lovers and art collectors will be gratified by the nearly 300 permanent antique dealers and second hand shops here. L'Isle sur la Sorgue hosts antiques' fairs at Easter and over the August 15th holiday that have given a worldwide reputation to this small city. More than 500 antique dealers and second hand dealers gather here to show their treasures to customers from all over the world.

This is a ‘don’t miss’ village for me everytime I visit. The Sunday market is hands-down one of the best in the area. The market winds in and out of the many ancient streets creating an incredible palette for the senses. I like to start my day enjoying a noisette on the terrace at the café Belle Vue, followed by a stroll through the market. Vendors here sell everything imaginable; beautiful provencal fabrics, seasonal clothing, shoes, meat, fish, cheese, olives, leather goods, paella, bread, and of course a huge assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. Just past the “Fisherman” tabac, you might catch the sweet sounds of Gig Street, a wonderful jazz band featuring the talented tenor sax player Leonard Blair.  I recently heard a rumor that Leonard is in Paris shooting a movie, but don't worry, he'll return to the markets in June.

For lunch, I recommend getting a reservation early at the restaurant Belle Vita, across from the old church. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to enjoy their fresh made pasta dishes that will melt in your mouth. Don’t forget the wine!!

After lunch, savor a delicious ice-cream cone while cooling your feet off in the Sorgue river; nap optional. J

Just another day in Provence!