After spending the first night in a room lit up like a light deprived torture camp ( that could be a bit of an exaggeration ), illuminated by the street light on a pole directly outside our room, I discovered we have these old school timber shutters. Better late than never.
Weve been on the go for 8 days and we have 5 nights here, with most things we want to see within an hours drive; so whats the rush?
This morning we strolled into the centre of the village at about 10am, its now 4.20pm, and I fell like Ive achieved nothing. Everything is going to plan.
We ate lunch at an African/ Moroccan Restaurant, with golden raffia shades and colourful tagines decorating the walls. The service was still very French; polite but detached. The ceiling light shades were made of very solid glaced pots, hanging upside down, just low enough for someone who doesnt have enough awareness to crack their skull on. Who on earth hangs light fittings so low that a 56 man gets them swinging ? I had chicken, olive, couscous with harissa sauce and it was delicious and plentiful.
Saint Remy de Province was founded in the 3rd century BC, and is located on one of the oldest archeological sites in Europe. A walk through the streets that cut back, turning in directions that bear
no resemblance to town planning, passes majestic 17th and 18th century hotels and residences, and the village was especially attractive to writers, artists and other creative people who called it home.
Probably the most famous of these was Vincent Van Gogh, who spent a year in an asylum here, after cutting off his ear. Apparently that raises alarm bells. He produced more than 150 of his works here, said to be inspired by the quality of light and the beautiful countryside. There is a self guided walking tour that takes you past many of the locations of his work, and its something I will be doing.
Another activity is to explore the ‘ Comptoir de Glanum‘, built in the 3rd Century before Julius Caesar took control, and these ruins have seen the passing of several civilisations, dating 20 to 30 years before Christ , so well do some fossicking through the ruins. They seem to it, and really, youre only helping tidy the place up, right?
Im not sure much more will occur here today. Sues sleeping, Tims being Tim, and Im staring out of our front door, watching the sun disappear behind the scalloped
This house is in an unusual position. It is only about 5 metres from the road at the front, and owing to a side road leaving the front road further back, on a slight angle, the bedrooms at the back are the wall where the sidewalk and the rear road starts. Confused? Think of a wedge with a house located near the pointy end, facing both sides. Still confused? Sorry.
Finally , for this is a rest day, I will quickly mention the driving setup here. Or more to the point, the road system.
France is the roundabout capital of the world, and theyre not scared to put two or three together just to confuse you.
Fortunately, Tim is driving and I havent been needed yet. You have to reprogram your brain to reverse the driving patterns, and sometimes off a roundabout, and seem to veer to the wrong side of the road , just to stay alive. I dont think the 30 minutes and $45 spent at an RACV office in Maribynong, Melbourne, equipped me to handle the swift thinking that
Ive popped a few pics up of our walk through the Village of St Remy. Some have descriptions, but most dont. Theyre just a brief sample of this special spot.
