Arrival in Provence

The first vineyard !

Well, almost the arrival !

We have spent the last 4 days slowly travelling down through England and then France and now we are ensconced outside the reception area of a charming french campsite in Provence - just a few miles from Avignon and even closer to the village of Langes.

Beautifully landscaped with many trees and hedges for privacy.


We have arrived at the ungodly (to the french) hour of the mid-day meal. All is closed here for 2 and a half hours !! One hell of a sandwich and salad break ?? So while we wait for the office to open, we have had a delicious sea food salad (courtesy of Waitrose) - thank god the caravan has an amazing fridge and we stocked up with goodies for the 4 days in advance.


Today though the fridge is looking very bare and a shopping trip is necessary. Yay. I have been v good the last few weeks - hardly any wine, no bread or carbs, just loads of fish, meat and salads !!

Now I can just enjoy the week ahead and not be concerned about the calories!! Afterwards though ......hmmm

Anyway I sit here in full sunshine, with the Mistral blowing dust wildly around us. The pool is just the other side of the driveway in and only one brave young boy has ventured in so far. This tells me that the water is probably unheated !! A few are sunbathing and reading though.

 I will pop over when we are settled in and maybe dip a toe in ?







As we made our way to the village we had to pass through a large lay-by and in here were numerous gigantic motorhomes!! In fact it was almost like an encampment and on the return ramble I counted over 40 and by then quite a few had left as there was to be an artisan market there the next day and the wagons had to depart!!!

 

 

 







After setting up, we first got our costumes on and went over to the pool area. I took a french book and Philip actually went for a swim, brave chap. I declined and just chilled and read a good long while.

Later, we went for a ramble, mainly along the river Sorgue, and ended up in Fontaine de Vaucluse. An incredible place - there is a spring which wells up from deep underground and then gushes down past a few weirs, locks etc along which there are several canoe and wild looking slalom runs.

 While we were there, the river was extremely fast flowing and a most beautiful turquoise colour due to all the recent rainfalls. The whole place is a bit of a tourist trap but very charming neverthless.


View from castle ruin





I have a bit of a beef about these motorhomes just parking up when and where they like as they do not have to pay any overnight fees. Caravaners have to fork out on average between 20 to 30 Euros a night but at least we are secure on a site and it is our choice to be safe. Still tho, what could we do with the extra cash ?? quite a bit really.

At the end of our return walk we stopped at the bar in reception and had a cooling glass of rose and a 'pression' - lager - for dad.

Much needed by then as we had walked miles and were footsore and weary. 


We spend a peaceful evening, chat with our dutch neighbours and settle down in preparation for an early depart in the morning.

 One thing in the shower/toilet block absolutely tickled me pink (as they say !!) - and you'll never guess what it was - an electric toilet brush !!! honest - never seen one before and could hardly imagine someone designing such a thing.

I actually chortled in amazement and promptly went back to the caravan to fetch my camera.....proof...

my husband can't quite believe that I'm going to take a picture of a toilet brush ...

it's quite unique I tell him...

See !!