A Wonderful Week in Provence

Great weather, happy guests, fabulous food and wine with plenty to see and do.

Wonderful small hotel, excellent service and each day of this week was a great day!

  Nimes La Maison Carree

 Luberon lavender fields

 Water mill at Fontaine

Some photos from our wonderful week in the western part of Provence.

In preparation for the 2014 Alsace tour

On my way back home, I visited the Alsace area in preparation for the 2014 tour. This is part of the 'Little Venice' in this German-influenced Alsace region town - close to the wine route where you will find plenty of wonderful white wines which grow well in this cooler climate.

Another part of the 'Little Venice' where on the left of the photo, there is a large market hall with fresh bread, fruit, vegetable, cheese, fish and meat market - in fact you can buy almost any food you want in order to prepare a sumptuous meal or picnic.

On the right is part of the old centre of Colmar with many restaurants, bistros, cafes and bars. One of the local foods is the Tarte Flambante. If you are not sure of what that is, maybe that's an excuse to go there! Click here to find out more about the 2014 tour.

Auray's old port of St Goustan

After a perfect lunch at the port of St Goustan at Auray we watched the kayaking where the current was obviously causing a lot of fun for the children. The tides are so large here that owners of larger boats have to make allowances for there being no water at all. The large blue boat above has a standing post attached to each side which is used to keep the boat upright when the tide goes out. Great technique!

Provence, Pyrenees, Dordogne

Less than two weeks and we will be touring again in some of France's most beautiful regions. For details have a look at this link http://www.slowtours.com/index.php?PID=4 and download the details on the 'Personalised Tours' at the bottom of the page. Some previous clients suggested that I should update my blog 'notice board' more frequently while I'm away, as they would like to see photos and hear about the trip as it happens, so I will be doing that and putting more photos here. These clients will be joining me next year for a similar tour, so want to see where they will be going! Here is a photo from the Dordogne region - the 'black' Dordogne. There are four regions in the Dordogne known as the 'black', the 'purple', the 'white' and the 'green'. Everyone has their own preferences, but I love all four. Each has its own character and local produce. The region is known for its famous 'foie gras', walnuts, sweet wines and truffles. Fortunately there are so many opportunities for walking, canoeing and exercising that hopefully the good food and wine will not take too much effect.

2010 tours now available for booking

The first 2010 tours are up on the website and if you have seen the home page, you will note that for anyone paying for their holiday in advance, we can offer substantial reductions while the exchange rates for Euros are favourable. If you would like further information, prices etc. please fill out the form on the 'Contact Us' page and we will either email or call you.

I will be looking forward to meeting some new people in 2010 and enjoying walking, canoeing, kayaking, boat trips, sailing - or whatever the groups enjoy doing. There will always be good restaurants with food to sample, wine-tasting and some time spent preparing and cooking a meal with one of France's friendly chefs.

Carol