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Traveling - Rendez-Vous in the French Riviera
The southeast corner
of France known as Provence – called the French
Riviera for its maritime area between Toulon and Nice
- is a romantic location with a little bit of everything
to offer the traveler.
Provence stretches from Cap Nègre
on the Maures ledge, to Cap Brun in the Esteral area,
and from Cap Roux near Toulon to the Iles d'Or (the
Golden Isles) out in the Mediterranean Sea. Inland,
the area runs as far as the Argens and the Verdon River
to the north.
The region of Provence is so called
because it was one of the first outlying provinces established
by the Romans. They called it "Provincia Romana"
and it was one of the jewels of the Roman Empire. Gradually,
over hundreds of years, the word Provincia changed to
Provence. "Provencal" is a dialect still spoken
here by many people.
Remnants of the ancient empire still
abound. There is the Pont duGard aqueduct that towers
160 feet above your head and a Roman arena still used
for bullfights and concerts in Avignon. Arles, with
its famous Roman arena, and Frejus (a city named and
built by Julius Caesar) still has traces of the port
where Caesar's navy once docked.
Everywhere you go, historical sites
abound with majestic stone castles sitting regally just
off the side of country roads, and you might find the
remnants of a pagan temple next to an austere Catholic
church with tall spires and towers that took decades
to build.
The rich and famous flocks to the Riviera
every year, much like the swallows to Capistrano. Walk
along the city streets in the spring, or one of the
many bustling open-air fruit and vegetable markets,
and you might just find yourself passing a famous movie
star or fashion model.
Even the names of some of the Riviera's
most famous cities bring to mind pictures of white sandy
beaches, a turquoise sea, and endless days under a tropical
sun -- St. Tropez, Monaco, Nice, Cannes.
Do you enjoy biking and hiking? Swimming?
Boating? How about taking a walking tour along narrow
cobblestone streets in tiny villages that date back
to mediaeval times? A romantic river cruise? Swimming
in the Mediterranean Sea? You'll find all of this and
more in Provence.
And of course, there are numerous opportunities
for experiencing French cooking at its best. Dining
in France is almost a religious experience! When dining
at someone's home, it's not unusual for dinner to last
three to four hours. If the occasion is an especially
memorable one, dinner can go until two or three in the
morning!
When eating at a French restaurant,
it won't matter if you choose a four star restaurant,
or a tiny sidewalk café. Your experience is sure
to be a gastronomic delight for your palette. And don't
even think of rushing through your meal! Each course
is presented with a certain formality and ceremony that
makes dining a pleasure. And you are always given plenty
of time to savor each course and never made to feel
as if you must vacate your table quickly for the next
diners.
The Mediterranean Sea is breathtaking,
whether you're seeing it from the air for the first
time as your plane lands in Nice, or while walking along
the rocky beaches at Cannes. Its colors change with
its moods – turquoise, emerald, and sapphire –
and the water is clear and warm for 6 months of the
year. In the winter, although it's too cold to swim
(except for the most hardy of souls), the Med's mood
and color matches the steel gray clouds, and you'll
enjoy the practically deserted beaches and the bracing
wind as you walk along the shore.
You have many choices for lodging in
Provence. Stay at a four-star hotel, and you may find
yourself sleeping on crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, in
a bed once used by kings and queens. There are charming
bed and breakfast cottages, where you'll be served your
meals family-style and learn the history behind the
best places in the area to visit from your hostess.
Or choose a former monastery, where you'll find peace
and tranquility, staying in small, quiet rooms with
thick stone walls and enjoy walking through outdoor
gardens with large fountains where wild rosemary and
thyme grow abundantly.
The people of Provence are friendly
and helpful. They won't mind if your French is a little
rusty, and will go out of their way to talk to you,
and answer your questions.
Each season has its own charms. Spring,
when the mimosa trees are bursting with the delicate
yellow blooms, red poppies grow wild alongside the autoroute
and there are fields of tulips to rival those in Holland.
Summer, when succulent fruits are abundant
everywhere, the leaves of the grapevines become an endless
"sea of green" when viewed from the road,
and the Mediterranean sea offers a respite from the
tropical heat.
Fall, when the grapevines are heavy
and full with their harvest, the red, yellow and oranges
leaves clothe the trees in splendid cloaks and community
festivals happen almost every weekend.
Winter, when the weather is mild and
sunny days are plentiful, but tourists are not.
Provence is an ideal spot for the perfect
vacation at any time of year. The area is so spectacular
that even visitors who are just "passing through"
find it hard to say good-bye.
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