Travel another way

Travel notes from one of our guests on a French Escapade tour to Provence.

“Bonjour everyone!

Yesterday we went to Rousillon and walked among ochre rocks jutting magestically out of the mountains- similar to Colorado red rocks. Beautiful, horizontal colors of yellows and light purples and of course this wonderful reddish/orange color. Needless to say, our shoes were covered lightly with the colored sand, but easy to brush off. The colors were amazing and we were there at evening light. Had a great dinner together at a Bistro. The waitress was very efficient and was running all over the place as it was a bustling scene. Great food!

Today. we went out to dinner in a small village called Goult, at a restaurant that is owned and run by 2 women. Jac found this restaurant but had never eaten there. So we were the guinea pigs and it turned out to be delightful. Excellent food! 

Swallows flying over head all over the place.

Having a blast taking a million pictures- the lighting is excellent and the scenery is to die for. I am still taking my window and door series.

Anyway, this morning we went to a bull farm. There is a certain kind of bull that is raised in this area that is used for a bull race type of sport. The bull is NOT killed. In fact there are these ribbons on the horms that the torero has to pull, in a certain order, within 15 minutes. The bulls are only allowed to “play” once a month. Most of the “toreros” do this for fun and not for major money but they are required to do special schooling. We saw how they round up the bulls and select  a bull out of the herd. There are special “guardian” cowboys on special small white horses- there were 3 today, who rounded up and separated the bulls for us. We were on a tractor drawn bed watching. The bulls are not allowed to see people up without being on horses as to not get used to people. They were magnificent. As were the riders on their horse.

This afternoon we went to a village off of the Mediterean sea (Les Saintes Maries de la Mer). There was a church with a black Madonna, and it’s an area that is know for its gypsy population as well as a destination for many tourists. We had fun shopping and having lunch. The weather was great. ”

All  for now.

Love

Rima and Karen

If you want to join us on a tour to Provence for women at 40% off, check www.frenchescapade.com and sign up now for October.

Of course, if you have attended Feel French 101 by going on one of our tours, you know that first, you should eat cheese after dinner and not before, slice cheese according to its shape and most of all, drink your cafe in a bowl for breakfast and not in a cup or a mug.
Here are 5 tips to make you feel French when living America.
1. Throw away that Grey Poupon mustard that is everything but French and switch to Maille, which is available at any supermarket.
2. If you want to keep up on what is going on in France and if you know some French, watch the daily French news report that everybody watches in france at 8pm. Of course, you can watch it at any time on the web at
http://jt.france2.fr/20h/  
3. When you think cookies, think Le Petit Ecolier by LU, and even better, get Petit Beurre cookies, also by LU, and dip them in your cup of coffee. Divine!
4. All French people have a picnic knife, often including a bottle opener. Their favorite brands: Opinel, made in the French Alps, or Laguiole, made in Aveyron. This brand is more upscale.  
5. I know you are not going to like this one: do not drink wine outside meals !!!! One glass right before a meal is acceptable, as an aperitif … and ony if you add half an inch of Creme de cassis in it, to make a Kir!

 Here is the famous Laguiole knife!