Belmont and Beyond: A Day in the South

On one of the days we were in Le-Puy-Sainte-Reparade, Elisabeth suggested that we take a drive into the nearby hills.

We had barely gotten out of town when she pointed out this tree and called it a pin parasol...translated to English, a parasol pine.

I haven't yet captured the way a field of wild poppies really looks.

Headed toward Cadenet, we had to first cross both the Canal de la Durance and the river La Durance.

The canals help to handle excess water in times of flooding.

I suspect the buildings came before cars. Carts and donkeys might allow for two way traffic.

Since Gary's visit, I now know that these trees have been pollarded. It limits leaf mess in the fall.

This is the central square of Cadenet.

On my right I noticed young trees being supported by bamboo sticks surrounding their trunks. The sun was really too bright for a decent picture...

Before leaving town we spotted the lavoir. It looked like someone had been making use of it.

As usual, the trough for animals to have a drink is right nearby.

If only I could get roses to bloom like this in Vermont!

Walls, rooftops, nothing stops the gardens!

Unplanned landscapes have there own beauty as do planted trees.

Then we reached the chateau of Lourmarin.

I wouldn't call it pretty, not even quaint, but it certainly is huge and impressive, most likely a good stronghold in years past.

There was a cluster of houses below the chateau.

More of the pin parasol trees along with the south's typical, tall French cypress trees.

There were many large homes in this area, but most were well hidden behind walls and gardens.

Most of the crosses are very old and honor those who fought in the world wars. This one appears to be a more modern remembrance. We were leaving Lourmarin and heading higher into the mountains.

That's a field of olive trees in front of the house. There was an abundance of olive trees in this area.

Earth tones predominate for houses, but sometimes the shutters sing with color. These shutters match the umbrella no less! Miel is honey. This is the land of lavender, truffles, and olive oil.

We had been climbing up the Luberon Mountains and were finally reaching Bonnieux.

At one place where the road narrowed for one way traffic only, there was a long traffic light. Because people's open windows were above, stopped cars were supposed to be turned off. You don't need to understand French to read the bottom sign! In case you are curious, the sign above it says that stopping on the pedestrian walkway is forbidden.

I was intrigued by steps leading to a pedestrian-only passageway between houses.

Bonnieux was our destination so we parked, crossed the road, and looked down over a stone wall...

This picture is for you, Harriet Ann...another street lamp.

The ability to parallel park is a necessity! We were lucky to find a space along the far wall. Time for a treat and the cafe was open. The only choices for a sundae was chocolate or coffee.

I never eat coffee ice cream, but this time it sounded better than chocolate...and reminded me of my sister because coffee ice cream was her favorite.

I'm not sure she would have appreciated the real coffee sprinkled on top of the whipped cream! Expresso without water?

And the bill? This is definitely a tourist and vacation town. Those two sundaes were 20 euros!

Also notice, there's just a little wire fence between us and the cliff...

It was time to leave Bonnieux and head back down to Lourmarin...

There's the stone wall and again a "street" for only pedestrians, but what I'm noticing is a girl wearing shorts! That is not a common sight in France. Below is more peeking over the stone wall.

The sky really is this blue! The light is far more intense than in northern France.

The stone wall continues as we work our way down the mountain.

A bit of strange art work below in the middle of the woods. There wasn't even a stream nearby.

Another field of olive trees. The yellow flowering shrubs are Spanish genet.

The plantings of olive trees around houses made it obvious that they are a vital part of the economy.

We are once again approaching the Chateau of Lourmarin...which rises above a field of poppies.

We continued on our way to once again find ourselves in Cadenet. There is no guessing. Towns are always well marked. The name with a line through it also announces that you have left that town.