Walking Tour Provence Day 7
Walking Tour Provence
Day 7 - Thursday, May 2, 2013 - From Aix-en-Provence Visit Moustiers-Sainte-Marie's Ceramics; After Lunch Travel to Gorges du Verdon
The day began with sunny skies and cool temperatures. It was 54° with 78% humidity. We brought our rain coats and our sun glasses with us; always prepared!
We left Aix and traveled north and east to Greoux les Bains. We had an hour to visit the hilltop village and walk through the weekly market, only held on Thursdays. We had so much fun tasting cheeses, olives, tapénades, nougats, and breads that we never made it up to the village.
Continuing our drive to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we had time to explore the village that is still very famous for blue and white ceramics made since the 1600's. Our first challenge was to climb to the top of the limestone rock outcropping to the Grotto Ste. Madeleine and then even higher to the Chapel Notre Dame de Beauvoir.
The view was spectacular and a good opportunity to take photos of the beautiful green valley. After the climb we walked a bit in town and had lunch at a little panini shop. Vic could get used to these luncheon specials; bread, cheese, and a glass of wine!
We did a little window shopping and Gennie bought some lavender and a post card. We are not big spenders, but it was fun to look.
Our adventure for the afternoon was a drive to the Gorges du Verdon. The steep drop offs into the canyon and the hair pin curves made the flatlanders among us very nervous. Vic thought it would be a great road to drive his Honda S2000.
We made several photo stops - the altitude was 2669 feet above sea level. We climbed to several overlooks to get the best vantage points. We all agreed not to take the 2 hour drive around the whole gorge. We were happy to see the few miles that we did.
It was 5:15 when we got back to the hotel. There was time to walk to a little neighborhood grocery store and buy meat and bread to go with the cheese we bought at the market today.
We worked on photos, completed the journal, and repacked our bags for the last leg of our Provence journey. Tomorrow we drive to Nice to tour the city. We will spend the afternoon in Èze and then we are on to Monaco for a visit and dinner.
Our walk was shorter today but primarily it was vertical! We walked 5.5 miles, but those steps to the Grotto were killers!
Accommodations: Escale Oceania - - - Meal: B & D - - Rating: B
Go Ahead Tours: Walking Tour of Provence
Comments
So nice to see the sun and the verdant green on your photos. We have driven all along the Gorges du Verdon and they are beautiful. We haven't done the hiking that you have, though. Enjoy Nice!
Post a Comment!Oh wow! I remember the Gorges du Verdon! We took a paddleboat up that river and jumped off some small cliffs. I remember the water was so blue, almost like the Caribbean.
Thursday Market at Greoux les Bains...
Village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Steps, Steps, & More Steps
Hardy Hikers
Gorges du Verdon
Featured Journal
Day 13: Azores & Madeira: Portugal's Unspoiled Archipelagos
Day 13 - Saturday, April 22, 2022 - Depart for U.S.
The hotel prepared a box breakfast for us as we had to be in the lobby way before the breakfast room was open.
Last night we found out that our departure flight back to...
