Jane and Arnold spent four days with us last week and we gave them a "Best Of" our little area in the South. They must have been in favor with the weather gods, because the entire they were here, the weather was perfect. Lucky!

On their first day we rose early for a morning run. We ran through the village, passing the quaint little houses with grapes hanging over their doorways; passing that elegant old chapel built on a rock; passing the vines ripe with grapes, the trees heavy with plums. The Ouvèze river gurgled to our right as we ran, slowly but steadily, to the next village 2km away. We alternately walked and ran all the way back, with Frank holding our morning booty: two flutes and a chausson de pomme from the boulangerie. Jane wanted more sweets, but I told her this modest little pastry was just the start!

We drove up to Mont Ventoux to see the view, a complete 360 of the Vaucluse and Drome areas. Mont Ventoux, at almost 2km tall, is sometimes used as a mountain stage in the Tour de France. To the west and down below was our local crag La Baleine (also known as St. Leger), so tiny! We could see Rocher St. Julien, l'Ubrieux, even Baume Rousse. To the distant east were the Alps. We walked up to the observation deck and placed a few rocks on the cairns there. The French Air Force made an appearance, with 3 large helicopters thundering close to the summit.

At Malaucène we lounged around with our alongers at a café. We were directly below a couple of pigeons, who decided to give us some good luck charms! Arnold almost got a direct hit; good thing his reflexes were acute! Jane, of course, bought some Durance goodies and postcards.

From there we headed for Vaison-la-Romaine (so-called because it was once a Roman settlement). It's early September, so there were a lot of tourists still. Stores selling colorful pottery, bags, lavender products, olive products, and soaps were a feast for the eyes. We spent a few minutes at the Vilasse ruins before walking into the city. Frank and I have spent quite a number of days walking around Vaison; it's really one of our favorite places to go on rest days. The light was spectacular as we walked over the Pont Romain and up to the old city so we spent a good deal of time there taking pictures. There was a man selling handmade lavender wands so we stopped to admire them. It turned out that he had been doing this craft for over 40 years! He was profiled in a travel review by the Los Angeles Times (of all papers), and he showed us an old picture of him and his family making those same wands. I love those little bits of personal history and culture. Arnold bought a lavender wand, with green ribbon, for his mom. She will love it, I'm sure. We finally arrived at the base of le Chateau Comtal, originally a wooden tower in 1180. It was at this point that Jane said, "You know, you guys should think about settling here. Because if we had a chance, we would!"

You know we'd settle here if we could! A stone house with bright blue shutters, olive trees, lavender bushes lining the path to the door, oh yeah. So would everyone else!

We decided to eat in, so we stopped at the market for groceries. And more wine! We'd opened two bottles the evening they arrived, and we needed more! Wine would be the theme for the following three days.

::: See a slideshow of Day 1 of Jane and Arnold's Provence visit. Use your browser's Back button to return to this page.