Apt tree

I love Provencal light
 

The Emperor's clothing store, apt, France

 

The best bite.

In my opinion the best bite of any meal here in Provence is the final sopping up of juices to clean the plate.

Fountain in Fontaine de Vaucluse

somebody put a lot of work into this. There many, little, water loving plants in this arrangement.

Shoulder bags for Martina, Fontaine de Vaucluse

I couldn't resist;~))

An evening in, Saignon

 While it was still warm, and also light late, we had our dinners on the terasse. I grilled a chicken (Yes, French chickens are wonderful), and we watched the colors change on the old walls above us. That's a 12 Euro bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape that tasted grand.

Bowl, Lacoste

Restaurant Loofoc, Lacoste

This restaurant has a rich history for us. On our first visit to Provence we rented a huge house called La Bastide Blanche, in Menerbes, the house where they filmed The Swimming Pool years later. We wanted the whole Peter Mayle experience. We were with three other couples. We were younger and didn't mind driving at night. We came to this little restaurant in Lacoste a couple of times. It was sort of a cross between funky and beautiful, with an interior that used to be a wine cave, with vaulted ceilings out of stone. Our French was poorer too. The waitress was a delight. She wore a dress made out of an old La Poste mailbag and loved to laugh. I made her night by trying my new knowledge of French waters by ordering a bottle of water "non-gazole" I thought that meant still water or non-gaseous water. Of course I had ordered a bottle of water without diesel fuel in it. She laughed so hard and couldn't look at me for the rest of the night without laughing all over again. The food was non-traditional Provencal fare, and very good.

Ever since that trip we have been trying to have lunch there, but it was always closed......only on the day we were there. This year we walked by and the doors were open and there was movement! When we came back by they were closed. Rats. I did think I heard some hysterical laughter from within.

Awning frames, Lacoste

 Come October (or a Mistral) all of the awnings seem to come down in the Luberon. Which leaves these wonderful shadows to enjoy.

Chien bizarre, Lacoste.

Even the Virgin Mary won't turn her back on that dog.

Key on mailbox, Lacoste

A feat of driving. Lacoste.

This man backed this machine, with a load in it's scoop, down about 100 yards of street, not more than two feet wider than the machine. He never touched a wall and barely looked back. If I had attempted this the town of Lacoste would be reduced to rubble.

Back street, Lacoste.

Statue, Lacoste

This seems to be a fitting statue to be outside the restored castle of the Marquis de Sade.

Filler cap, Lacoste

Lacoste is being rapidly gentrified. Between the school, SCAD, and the museum, the buildings are being beautifully restored. I am of two minds about this. The results are wonderful but I feel the town loses a little of it's ancient feel with every perfectly pointed stone wall. This is a nice peice of whimsey that reflects on a drain hole in a wall in Saignon from earlier in the blog.

Lacoste

Lacoste is a fascinating town. Very hilly, very old, with an art school adjunct from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). It is the home of the Marquis de Sade's castle that has been purchased by Pierre Cardin and restored, then turned into an art museum. All of this in a tiny hill town. Great fun to walk around.

Fig leaf, Saignon

These started to really fall in our second week.

Baby showing, Saignon

As we came into town one day we ran into this group admiring the twins, grandchildren of the owner of the Balthazar, one of the restaurants in town.

Changing vines, Saignon

 I love the daily changes in the Autumn.

Mailbox, Saignon